Reviews

To begin, this is definitely not a very good film. What's on screen views as a promising second draft that needed a bit of story expansion and nuance by the screenwriter. It not helpful the script is directed just as written, meaning no atmosphere, mood or imagination. Young Joey King plays Claire, a high school student who comes into possession of a Chinese Wish box and granted seven wishes which are paid for by the death of those closest to her. Claire's vapid wishes lead to several deaths that take place in a vacuum. If you have seen a "Final Destination" film you've seen how this goes, The redeeming feature of the story is the writer has set up a rather interesting twist at the end, however, it mostly just sits at the beginning and end, ignored , almost like a draft. It's so underdeveloped, I was halfway home before I realized how clever it might have been. Watch the dog's scenes at the beginning.

Really did not like this movie. I'm giving it a 5 for the production values. Sure, this is Die Hard in the White House, but boy did it take a wrong turn. After 9/11 would it really take so long to bring down the assault plane? Was it really necessary to make the crumbling of the Washington Monument a copy of the collapse of the towers? Should not the seal attack be called off after seeing what they were up against? As for the hostages, the only politician to earn my respect was Melissa Leo's Secretary McMillan, despite her over the top recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, comes across as serious and dedicated, unlike the President. I know there's not much review as criticism here, but this is one of the few films that I couldn't get over the stupidity of some plot points.

This is a review of the film adaption of A Village Affair and not the book, which I have not read, but understand is a better product.

A Village Affair sat on my TV table over a year before being viewed. It was tough going.

Sophie Ward plays bored and frustrated housewife and mother Alice Jordan who moves to a small English village with her husband and three children. This village is the kind of place where everybody inexplicably knows everybody else's business. The kind of place where if you drive off the highway and drive through town to get gas, everyone on the street turns to stare as you pass.

Alice's dull life is livened by the arrival of Clodagh Unwin, played by Kerry Fox. A free spirited native returning home after a failed love affair in New York. Feigning interest in her husband, Clodagh's real desire is Alice. Friendship turns to love and the two soon become lovers.

Near the end I began to understand the core of the writer's intentions. To see it, you have to peel away the story elements like an onion. First, the Villagers. These people act as if it's the mid 60s instead of the 90s. Suspicious for no reason, intolerant, suspecting things with no evidence. Next, the families, including a brother who appears only to expose the lovers with no reason and parents who abandon Clodagh when she needs them most. In fact, if filmed today, the movie would be ridiculed and might be considered offensive because nearly all of the supporting characters are so very intolerant and say so.

Anyway, this leaves Clodagh and Alice who really do love each other. Although it's soon apparent, the most passionate feelings belong to Clodagh. Alice realizes she has become the obsession of her lover and worried about losing custody of her children decides to give up her relationship. This brings Clodagh to what amounts to a emotional breakdown. This does not deter Alice, who in the end, leaves the village and her lover.

To me, Alice has left behind a broken woman and sold out her own feelings. Clodagh had been in a bad relationship overseas. One can only wonder how she acted during and after the breakup. Leaving the final question. Did Alice escape a life she found suffocating and or a obsessive relationship or did she turn her back on the love of her life.

Perhaps the answer is in the book. It's sure not on screen. 4/10.