The Wings of the Dove . Austin Chronicle . 07-27-98

The Wings of the Dove

DIRECTED BY: Iain Softley

REVIEWED: 07-27-98

If you enjoy period pieces but are sick and tired of the namby-pamby pretense of more recent fare like Howard's End and The Remains of the Day, you certainly owe it to yourself to check out The Wings of the Dove. While the title is terribly reminiscent of an epic French melodrama filled with gushing music that goes nowhere for three hours, this film is something completely different, and unexpected, I might add. Director Softley has crafted an enigmatic puzzle, a love triangle set in turn-of-the-century London and Venice. Bonham Carter (nominated for an Oscar here) and Roache play two young lovers, Kate and Merton, neither with the means to live in a comfortable upper-middle-class manner. Elliot's Millie, orphaned and wealthy, is targeted by Kate, and a plan is hatched: Millie is dying, and if Merton seduces her, she'll leave her fortune to him. Then Kate and Merton can live happily ever after. Suffice it to say that screenwriter Hossein Amini calls this film a "neo-noir," which should give you some idea about how well things go for the duo. It's not as obvious as a Hollywood thriller - it's a romance and a mystery that makes you take pause to consider the consequences of your underhandedness. Considering that Softley's last movie was Hackers, that's quite a refreshing change of pace.

--Christopher Null

Interviews
The Wings of the Dove
The Wings of the Dove
The Wings of the Dove

Full Length Reviews
The Wings of the Dove
The Wings of the Dove
The Wings of the Dove
The Wings of the Dove
The Wings of the Dove
The Wings of the Dove
The Wings of the Dove

Capsule Reviews
The Wings of the Dove
The Wings of the Dove

Film Vault Suggested Links
Carrington
Kama Sutra
Kissed

Rate this Film
If you don't want to vote on a film yet, and would like to know how others voted, leave the rating selection as "Vote Here" and then click the Cast Vote button.