With the term “art film,” one often associates with several stereotypes. Foremost among them, one that even I used to subscribe to, is that “art” films never have much of a story - they’re just a couple hours of character development, with nothing more.
“The English Patient” blows that stereotype, along with many others, right out of the water.
While there may not be any “ID4” level special effects, and no “Lethal Weapon”-like action, “The English Patient” is one of the most intriguing and suspenseful movies I’ve ever seen.
What stands out about the intrigue of this film is that it is more than two and a half hours long. Most of the time, such movies become extremely boring by the third hour; this one only gets better.
While uncommonly intricate characters are developed along the way, the actual plot of this movie is extremely complex, but explained well enough to work. There are enough subtle twists and turns in the story to fill a dozen John Grisham novels.
The plot of “The English Patient” is much, much too complicated to explain in a review of this length, but the Oscar-worthy performances should give me plenty to write about.
Ralph Fiennes plays Almasy, a mysterious Hungarian explorer of few words. A good part of the movie takes place in the African desert with him and a group from an international geographic society, one of whom is Katharine Clifton, played by Kirsten Scott Thomas.
Fiennes is nothing short of spectacular. His role is as complex if not more so the story surrounding him, and brings out emotions in his part that the screenwriter could have never imagined.
Juliette Binoche, playing an English nurse named Hana, is excellent as well. Her part occurs at a different time than the romance of Almasy and Katharine, and having world-class actors to alternate between adds the impressiveness of the film.
This movie can be appreciated in two different ways. One, for it’s wonderful escapism. The cinematography and acting is so convincing that the viewer leaves reality from the first minute of the film. Second, the details of the story are delightful on their own. There is probably enough symbolism the film for a semester of a college Literature course.
Put simply, “The English Patient” is incredible. It interweaves a great mystery and two love stories with grace I’ve never seen before. There is not a single detail in the entire film that isn’t executed to perfection.
Whether you like the stereotypical “art film” or not, don’t think of missing this one.
Grade: A+