Metroland *** (1997, Christian Bale, Emily Watson) – Classic Movie Review 1567

Director Philip Savile’s 1997 British drama is a really conscientious and interesting version of the weird Julian Barnes novel, set in the 1970s.

Christian Bale is excellent as Chris, a married Englishman who must choose between a cosy life in the suburbs and the provocative artistic life.

Adrian Hodges writes the screenplay adaptation, in which Chris is provoked into a deep train of thought by the sudden reappearance of his best friend Toni (Lee Ross) after ten years away.

Chris recalls the past, his time of carefree youth as a photographer in Paris, where he enjoyed a torrid affair with live-in lover Annick (Elsa Zylberstein), and also met Marion. He also questions his lifestyle decisions and re-evaluates his calm, predictable life and slightly dull marriage to Marion (Emily Watson). John Wood (the Retired Commuter), Jonathan Aris (Dave) and Amanda Ryan (Joanna) also star. The score is by Mark Knopfler.

There’s brief frontal male and female nudity, as well as numerous sex scenes with thrusting sex. Bare breasts and buttocks are shown throughout and the F-word is used eight times.

Bale and Watson re-united for Equilibrium in 2002.

http://derekwinnert.com/equilibrium-2002-christian-bale-sean-bean-emily-watson-taye-diggs-classic-movie-review-1554/

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 1567

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com/