[.ca] Lawless Heart

arresting drama:
***1/2 "Lawless Heart" feels a bit like a confused mess at the start - until you realize that it is telling the same story from the perspective of three different characters. When the elements begin to fall into place, the film becomes a touching human drama about exactly what the title implies - the inability to make the heart do what one wants it to do. Written and directed by Tom Hunsinger and Neil Hunter, the film begins at the funeral of a gay man named Stuart who drowned a few days earlier in a boating accident. The story focuses on three of the people closest to him: Nick, Stuart's lover; Dan, Stuart's brother-in-law; and Tim, an old friend of Stuart's who's been off trying to make a success of himself and not doing a very good job of it. Rather than relate the tale in a straightforward, linear fashion, the filmmakers have chosen to employ a multi-level narrative structure, showing us events first from the perspective of one character, then backing up time and showing us them again from the perspective of another. Although the technique is often more distracting and gimmicky than illuminating, the film ultimately becomes a moving study of loss, jealousy, confusion and passion, with each of the film's many characters (not just the three listed) making a memorable mark on our hearts. The movie is helped immeasurably by its highly gifted cast, its complex interplay of character and time, and its understanding that the one thing we can't control is who we care for and who we love. The maturity of the film is evidenced in the fact that each of the characters comes to learn that he must temper his passions if he hopes to get through life with his sense of morality and decency - and his self-respect - intact. Well written and acted, "Lawless Heart" is a quiet, unassuming film that has some important things to say about The Big Three: life, death and love.

Uninteresting people:
British movies excel in showingunattractive people in irrelevant problems.This DVD is to me a complete waste of time and I regret the almost two hours spent, viewing it.

If you have a multi-reiongal DVD, get the British version:
The British version of this DVD comes not only with directors' commentary, but with deleted scenes that are also accompanied by commentary. Why First Look produced such a bare bones DVD when a much more complete one is available is beyond me. If you have a DVD player than can play PAL region 2 DVD's, then you'll want to get this movie elsewhere.

3.5 Stars - Quintessential British Filmaking:
I can only imagine that the sleeve design of this DVD was hoping to grab the attention of Red Shoe Diary, or Hunger viewers, when the film itself couldn't be further from that genre. A very clever piece of film making though it is, as we see three separate stories revolving around a funeral that happens at the beginning of the movie. Unlike ordinary flashback style pictures however, this shows the same story over from three completely different angles, keeping the viewer absorbed, whilst peripherally catching parts of the other two stories played out behind the one being watched. This is a story about ordinary people in a small community united in the loss of a friend, and in an almost "Wonderful Life" homage, the ramifications of that loss, and effect had on all who came into contact with him. A quiet Isle of Man (small island off west coast of England for those unsure)community where most people know everything about each other anyway, adds to the flavor of the story, and although you could hardly call this movie, action packed, sexually charged, or even gripping - it is strangely, and almost beautifully compelling. Each little cameo is well acted and very believable, and although it has a cast of little known or unknown actors, don't be put off. Not a movie to appeal to all tastes I'm sure, but highly enjoyable.