"Possession"
Feature film
Released theatrically: 2002
Directed by Neil LaBute
Screenplay by David Henry Hwang, Laura Jones and Neil LaBute

Starring: Gwyneth Paltrow, Aaron Eckhart, Jeremy Northam, Jennifer Ehle

Production and Distribution Companies: Baltimore Spring Creek, Contagious Films, Focus Features, USA Films, Warner Bros.

Neil LaBute's 4th feature film, "Possession," was released on video and DVD on Tuesday, 11 February 2003.

As probably everyone know, "Possession" is LaBute's adaptation of the immensely popular same-titled novel by A.S. Byatt. The story opens with Roland (Aaron Eckhart) discovering previously unknown letters written by the subject of his studies, renowned (fictional) poet Randolph Henry Ash, who is famous for his life-long devotion to his wife and his writing dedicated to her. The letters were written to another 19th century English poet, Christabel LaMotte, who was thought to have been committed to her relationship with a female painter. Roland seeks out the preeminent authority on LaMotte to investigate these findings further. The researcher is an icy British academic played by Gwenyth Paltrow. They investigate the history-changing connection between Ash and LaMotte, retracing a trip the two poets took together. The barriers between the researchers melt and their relationship mirrors in some ways the relationship between their research subjects. This is both a mystery and a love story. Scenes of the 19th century are interspersed with the contemporary story of the researchers learning about it. One of LaBute's greatest accomplishments with "Possession" is the fact that this acclaimed but dense and complicated book is rendered quite understandable on film.

"Possession" is an impressive and accomplished work of cinematic art. Its production budget was a reported $25 million, and this shows up on the screen. The cinematography is elegant and appropriate. The acting is world-class. Academy Award-winner Gwenyth Paltrow stars and her talent is matched by LaBute's fellow BYU graduate Aaron Eckhart. The movie was filmed on location in England, much of it in real locations specified in the book, such as the London Library.

This is not necessarily an "easy" movie to get into. It starts off slow and it never serves up a car chase or explosion. It really is about poets and literary research. But I thoroughly enjoyed it and will certainly watch it again. This is an amazingly romantic movie. It is sincere, not schmaltzy. It is nice that the movie is not shallow or hollow. Although not overtly religious, there are are a number of intriguing themes and ideas. After some slow going in the opening scenes my interest was really engaged and I was drawn into the parallel love stories. There is no question that the quality of filmmaking here is higher than can be found in any LDS Cinema movies, even Dutcher's "Brigham City" or Davis' "The Other Side of Heaven." This is not only because of the movie's $25 million production budget. LaBute is a very talented director and screenwriter, but this isn't the only reason. Thesource material was top-rate (Byatt's book won the Booker Prize). Another major factor is the talent of the two leads, Gwenyth Paltrow and Aaron Eckhart. With seeming ease they manage to make wonderful and watchable characters out of two literary researchers.

Although an all-around excellent movie, I can see in "Possession" the limitations that prevented it from garnering more critics' awards than it did. Although a wide-open film set in various locales in England and France, it does lack the sheer scope of movies such as "The Twin Towars" and "Gangs of New York." But I would heartily recommend this to fans of Latter-day Saint filmmaking, not because its themes are necessarily specific to our interests, but because the level of LaBute's craft is something to relish and aspire to.

CONTENT: The following paragraphs are about offensive content to audiences who prefer LDS Cinema and videos available at Deseret Book. This is for information only, and is not meant to imply that such material is appropriate or inappropriate.

"Possession" is rated PG-13, and is LaBute's first movie that is not rated R. For Latter-day Saints who do not watch R-rated movies, "Possession" can serve as a great introduction to the most successful Latter-day Saint director of live action dramatic films working today.

There is little that would be considered offensive, but there are a few things to note. The only violence is some scuffling between English professors. The characters are poets and academics and the dialogue is lofty and intelligent. There is virtually no vulgarity except for one "sh -- " word. I did not recall any profanity, but ScreenIt.com indicates a total of 12 profane exclamations, along the lines of "For God's sake" and "Jesus." ScreenIt.com also points out 1 "damn" and 1 "hell." Relatively mild compared to most movies, and not even on the same scale as LaBute's previous movies. There is no nudity.

The potentially most offensive aspects of "Possesion" are the fact that one character is a lesbian, and a love scene between the historical characters of Randolph Henry Ash (Jeremy Northam) and Christabel LaMotte (Jennifer Ehle). Blanche, the lesbian character, is Christabel LaMotte's companion. There is never anything shown happening between them beyond holding hands. The key plot point in the movie is that Christabel had an affair with a man, Randolph Henry Ash. Christabel is loyal to her female friend and companion until Blanche commits suicide, but her true love is Ash. LaBute displays a realistic understanding of many aspects of human nature and clearly doesn't subscribe to some of the silly, politically correct notions of lesbianism that are quite popular. But "Possession" is also a fairly faithful adaptation of Byatt's book, so it's not like LaBute went out of his way to contrivean anti-lesbian plot. The characters are simply realistically portrayed people and there's no agenda behind the plot.

The scene most likely to keep "Possession" off of Deseret Book shelves is the love scene between Ash and LaMotte. LaBotte is fully covered wearing an ankle-length nightgown, but Ash appears to be wearing nothing, although he is obscured by LaMotte and blankets. It's fairly brief and discreet, but definitely earns the movie a PG-13 rating. As for Aaron Eckhart and Gwenyth Paltrow... I don't think there's anything between them that couldn't be done in a slightly daring BYU-produced play. There is not even any sex implied between them during the course of the movie.

In summary, this isn't a family movie, but it isn't meant to be one. I have no concern that kids will watch the movie and see something I wouldn't want them to, because no kid will last past the first 20 minutes of library research, poetry auctions, and persuasive academia.