The Edge of Love

To get one thing clear from the outset, contrary to the marketing this film is not "this year's Atonement, only better". It lacks the intelligence of Atonement, the direction and cinematography are weaker, the acting isn't as good and the score is nowhere near the same league. So beyond the superficialities of being set at the same time and featuring the same actress (Keira Knightley) its not a good comparison and does this film no favours.

The film concerns the women in the life of poet Dylan Thomas (Matthew Rhys) and the unlikely friendship that forms between his wife (Sienna Miller) and his childhood sweetheart (Knightley). The opening half of the film, set in a blitz ravaged London, is promising enough - director John Maybury gives us some good shots and some genuine jolts and an intriguing introduction to the characters.

The acting throughout is good - Knightley and Miller both manage credible Welsh accents, (although certain parts of the dialogue get lost slightly) and Miller, in particular, gives a great performance. Rhys plays Thomas as a kind of Peter Pan figure - refusing to take responsibility or grow-up or take anything seriously and whilst this might capture something of his self-centredness, it fails to account for the depth or despair of some of his writing. (In general, Thomas' poetry is handled pretty poorly by the film - muttered semi-audibly in barely comprehensible snippets rather than given room to shine, but then the focus of the film is definitely on the women). Cillian Murphy, as Knightley's suitor and later husband, has to deal with the stiffest of accents and the dodgiest of lines, but still emerges with the most credit from the second half of the film, giving a convincing portrayal of a man returned from the trauma of fighting in Greece. In fact, its the redemption of his relationship with Knightley that ultimately proves the films most redeeming feature.

It's in the second half - set in a seemingly permananently wet and misty Wales (which doubtless won't please the Welsh tourist board) - that things just start to drift as the relationships become more tangled. I found myself becoming more concerned for the baby, seemingly carelessly left here, there and everywhere, than any of the adult participants and it comes as something of a relief when Murphy finally gets out his rifle and starts shooting up the house.

Overall - 3/5. The opening section is really good viewing, but the film then gets lost somewhat in the Welsh mist. Strong performances from Murphy and Miller will just about keep you engaged till the end though.