In Love and War (1997)

reviewed by
Walter Frith


                             IN LOVE AND WAR
               A film review by Walter Frith
                Copyright 1997 Walter Frith

Director Richard Attenborough is a master of detailed story telling. The Academy Award winning producer and director of 'Gandhi' (1982) tells the story of famed American writer Ernest Hemingway (Chris O'Donnell) and his romantic encounters during World War I with a Red Cross nurse (Sandra Bullock). Based on the book 'Hemingway In Love and War' by Henry S. Villard, James Nagel and Mackenzie Astin, this movie develops its characters very well as we come to know their personalities and overall human qualities. O'Donnell is bravely spirited as Hemingway and Bullock has a keen sense of duty and maturity in her role as the caring nurse as she is several years older than Hemingway and this movie is based on a true story. Unfortunately, this picture has some very big flaws such as neglecting the presence of its supporting players which has plagued Attenborough throughout his directorial career. His 1992 film 'Chaplin' was a very entertaining and deep biography about the life of Charles (Charlie) Chaplin played by Robert Downey Jr. but Attenborough failed to develop the supporting players such as Douglas Fairbanks (Kevin Kline) and Mary Pickford (Maria Pitillo) both of whom helped Chaplin establish United Artists along with the pioneering film director D.W. Griffith in 1919. Even the character of legendary FBI director J. Edgar Hoover (Kevin Dunn) could have been played better with coaching and script changes influenced by Attenborough. 'In Love and War' is basically a two character story when it should really have involved its supporting players better. It also suffers from a tedious pace and a lackluster use of music score which enhances most romantic sagas. It is an exceptional visual experience as the landscapes of Italy and Canada serve as the film's location points and are very well photographed. This film is suited to audiences of extreme literary taste and dedicated lovers of film romance. Others beware!

OUT OF 5> * *     

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