Jack Hawkins (Hawkensian)
It may be 72 years old, but Brief Encounter's tale of heady, all-consuming romance is timeless. In fact, the film's character driven narrative is bolstered by its quaint, wholesome and passionately sentimental charm.Celia Johnson (Laura) and Trevor Howard (Alec) deliver performances that are just as sensitive and articulate as Noel Coward's poignant, eloquent script. Johnson is particularly impressive in the way she tactfully skirts the overwrought potential of her character with a performance that is nuanced as it is endearing. The stellar leads are also supported by several interesting characters, especially Myrtle the sassy cafe manager and Albert the cheeky station conductor.Perhaps the only criticism of Coward's pithy script is that it doesn't sufficiently develop Laura's relationship with Fred, her seemingly mild-mannered and understanding husband. More detail of her staid, suburban existence may have given her romantic dilemma even greater resonance.Minor gripes aside, this proverbial classic is likely to cause a lump in the throat of anyone who has experienced the difficult, overwhelming feelings of Laura and Dr. Alec.
iam
On the plus side, it was beautifully filmed and Rachmaninoff's music can never be overused - I could listen to it nonstop! The film has much technical merit including insight into middle-class sensibilities and the internal struggle of an ordinary woman to fulfill her family obligations. Unfortunately I found the two main characters, Laura and Alec, overwhelmingly weak and needy! Hard to believe anybody can characterize Alec as virtuous. While he may have the veneer of a good doctor, he was your typical smooth operator, full of himself and likely a serial cheat. Sadly, the way they were more than willing to betray their families made them wholly unlikable: wishy-washy and lacking moral fibre. If anyone in the film stood out, it's the patient and kind spouse, Fred. His compassion and understanding at the very end is the most noble act in this all together tawdry affair. As depressive and dishonest as the wife is, Fred is solid and loyal - proving that he is a better and stronger man. If I was rooting for true love tested, then the ending was perfect.
Irishchatter
It's not a surprise that the stupid catholic church here in Ireland back then made this film banned because of "promoting adultery". Seriously, they thought it's all about everyone involved when it wasn't, I'm sure lots of people who had unhappy marriages, couldn't get a divorce because them clowns would be telling them how to live their lives. Anyways what's unfortunately happened, has happened!Let's get talking about this movie, it's such a very sad tale that Laura and the Doctor had to face in society where cheating was a shame to anyone finding out. I'm sure they would be afraid that their kids will be taken from them if their partner's ever found out. I honestly thought at the end, I was going to see them run away together but unfortunately, they had to call it quits when he had to go to South Africa for his new doctor job. It's just heartbreaking like you honestly would shed a few tears to see that both of them have drifted apart.Very good movie but again, it's heartbreaking 💔
grantss
Engaging drama.Romantic dramas are second only to horror movies in terms of formulaic plot and lack of originality. Brief Encounter is reasonably original, especially for its time, in that both the man and woman in the relationship are married, and not to each other.The movie starts well, showing how they first meet, how they start to see more of each other, some amusing incidents along the way, and how they fall in love. But they're married, so you know this can't be a simple relationship. You think all along: can this have a happy ending, and what is a happy ending in this context? Do you even approve of the relationship?All this told with some wonderful old English settings, 1940s sensibilities and charm.Unfortunately, after this intriguing dilemma, the movie then drifts for a period and then we have a conclusion that is a damp squib. Writer Noel Coward and director David Lean pull their punches and the ending feels like a cop-out. Very disappointing, especially after all that went before it.Good performances by Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson in the lead roles.
AD
