Review of Damage (1992) by Alison O — 22 Dec 2004

Best in Show: Jeremy Irons.

One for the future: Juliette Binoche.

Stand-out scene: Discovery at apartment.

Brainer or no-brainer: Brainer.

Stands up to one viewing or repeated?: One.

DVD commentary any good?: n/a.

TV.

Channel 4's recent broadcast of this movie was perhaps prompted by the recent sex scandal involving Home Secretary David Blunkett (it's a wonder ITV didn't dust off Scandal too!) and this is the first time i've seen this. I agree with the critics that there's not much chemistry between Irons and Binoche (imbd reports that Binoche fled the set when Irons got too rough filming the sex scenes) but Irons portrays a man smitten with his son's fiancee with such conviction that the lack of chemistry almost doesn't matter. Of course Binoche excels as always and the cast benefits greatly from the calibre of support from the likes of Miranda Richardson, Rupert Graves and (briefly) David Thewlis. The film's denouement was well staged and if this film was predictable up to a point, Louis Malle certainly plays with audience expectations whilst getting there. There is a starchy feel to the film where there should have been more tenderness, but as 18 Rated movies go at least this is about people's feelings rather than gratuitous gore and violence. Thought-provoking and heart-breaking. Novelist Josephine Hart hasn't written anything since, sadly.