Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by Billy Wonka (A) on August 18, 2015 at 15:35:12

Natasha Richardson is married to shrink Hugh Bonneville. He lands a good job at a crazy house just outside London where Joss Ackland and Ian McKellen serve as the top guys. Richardson, feeling no love in her marriage, soon happens upon a strapping inmate in the form of Marton Csokas. The sparks start to fly almost immediately. (So unpredictable!)

During the risky undertakings of the affair enough people catch whiff to cause a calamity between her and Bonneville. McKellen, now competing for the top job with Bonneville, does whatever to exacerbate a marital blow up. Csokas escapes and soon Richardson follows. So far, so predictable. Now the last third cranks up and some strange character plays begins as McKellen starts to mix things up a bit while treating both Richardson and Csokas.

The first part of the film makes you wonder why you have watched for so long. Outside the excellent acting and always perfect English art direction there are no surprises. It's all a build up to act two which is worth a glance.

Richardson must have had the most successful face-lift in history. In this film she looks younger, more toned, and has iconic, near Olympian features. She has never looked better. McKellen shines in his role as the scheming shrink while Bonneville and Sean Harris (Borgia) do good turns in support.

This is a perfect Netflix offering. You can always turn it off if it isn't moving fast enough. Although, how many English films have ever been flagged for breaking the speed limit?