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From Amazon.co.uk
The atmospheric and erotically charged Breaking and Entering reunites director Anthony Minghella with Jude Law (The Talented Mr. Ripley, Cold Mountain) and the haunting Juliette Binoche (The English Patient, for which she and Minghella won Academy Awards). Law fully invests himself as pre-occupied landscape architect Will Francis, who, with his partner (Martin Freeman from The Office), is heading a gentrification project in London's seedy, crime-plagued King's Cross neighbourhood. At home, he and Liv (Robin Penn Wright, Beowulf), his morose Swedish-American girlfriend of 10 years, are increasingly estranged over the demands of his job and of caring for Liv's autistic daughter, a 13-year-old aspiring gymnast. Will, hiding his identity, begins an affair with Amira (Binoche), the mother of a youth who has twice ransacked Will's office. Amira is a Bosnian refugee with a fierce survival streak that is not above blackmail when she learns who Will is.
This is Minghella's first original screenplay since his little-known romantic gem Truly Madly Deeply. The dialogue has Woody Allen pretensions: A cleaning woman who comes under suspicion for the break-ins invokes Kafka. A prostitute (Vera Farmiga giving the film's liveliest performance) has a philosophical bent. Will himself ham-handedly explains how he much prefers metaphors to straightforward communication (he'd love this film's title). An art-house film with an A-list cast and wrenching performances, Breaking and Entering couldn't get arrested in cinemas, but it is a fine addition to Crash and other liberal-minded "them and us" dramas. --Donald Liebenson
Product Description
Breaking and Entering is an interesting, character-driven drama. Jude Law (Closer, Final Cut) plays Will, a landscape architect who succeeds in business but finds his personal life is tougher to navigate. He has been with Liv (Robin Wright Penn, Forrest Gump, The Pledge) for years, but finds it difficult to connect with her due to her worries over her teenage daughter. When Will catches teenager Miro breaking into his office, he chases the thief home, meets and falls for the boy's mother--a Bosnian refugee played by Juliette Binoche (Chocolat, The English Patient)--further complicating his relationship with Liv.
- Actors Jude Law, Juliette Binoche, Robin Wright Penn, Martin Freeman, Ray Winstone, Rafi Gavron, Vera Farmiga, Anna Chancellor, Hu Tin-Ting, Eleanor Matsuura & Juliet Stevenson
- Director Anthony Minghella
- Certificate 15 years and over
- Year 2006
- Languages English
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
It took me a while to watch this movie after reading some negative reviews , but I was greatly surprised by this beautiful piece of work by Anthony Minghella .It tells the story of Will ( Jude Law ) an architect and Amira ( Juliette Binoche ) an Bosnian refugee in North London and touches on several subjects like relationships and immigration
The film starts with a break in and the story becomes interesting from the beginning, the pace is good , the story is simple but beautifully put together , perhaps the best thing about this movie is the way AA wraps the whole thing in the end.
It is filmed around Charing Cross and North London and for some reason the director choose not to have panoramic shots of the area and concentrate on the characters.
The secondary plots are also interesting and there several famous faces ( Martin Freeman , Ray Winstone , Rad Lazar ) in supporting roles
There are not many extras on the DVD but the directors commentary is particularly interesting.
The film starts with a break in and the story becomes interesting from the beginning, the pace is good , the story is simple but beautifully put together , perhaps the best thing about this movie is the way AA wraps the whole thing in the end.
It is filmed around Charing Cross and North London and for some reason the director choose not to have panoramic shots of the area and concentrate on the characters.
The secondary plots are also interesting and there several famous faces ( Martin Freeman , Ray Winstone , Rad Lazar ) in supporting roles
There are not many extras on the DVD but the directors commentary is particularly interesting.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Alan Tucker
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Perhaps expectations of this film have been too high. I'm reviewing it mainly to redress the balance. There aren't that many decently made watchable films set in London that a good piece of work like this should be missed. It reminds me of Sunday Bloody Sunday, a story based on domesticity and the understanding and misunderstandings between a small group of interesting and likeable people, pretty well acted. Binoche is excellent, no-one is less than believable. The plot is maybe - but that's cinema. If you like a quiet well made and well shot film don't miss it.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Tim Kidner
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:DVD
I've always enjoyed this modest, penultimate work from Isle of White director, Anthony Minghella. He made The No.1 Ladie's Detective Agency two years after but tragically died from a hemorrhage after routine surgery, in a London Hospital, in 2008. He was just 54.
So, it is with great respect that we see here his last work made in his native Britain. It actually runs more akin to a French drama, where honest and thorough characterization helps us get to know the people, acted without ceremony or pretension.
The film's structure is beautifully laid out, it's quite complex, yet we are never left confused but are gently guided into place by each unfolding drama. Jude Law is beautifully natural, a human being who could be living in the next street, working in our local town centre. His family and life are very believable, with anxieties about their daughter putting a strain on both him and his Swedish partner (Robin Wright Penn).
It is however, the shadier side to life that both provides the substance and the downfalls all round. After break-ins at his posh architecture's office, a whole series of dramas unfold, that involve others. Some are obvious and direct, others are subtle and take their time. The film always allows both us and the characters room to breathe, which is how real life actually is.
Juliette Binoche, a favourite French brunette actress of mine is also superb, her nuanced and finely balanced performance expresses all the anxiety and paranoia of a Bosnian refugee, with a son, who is trying to make good in difficult circumstances. When Will Francis (Law) starts a relationship with her, after he has clothes altered by her, all the pieces of the puzzle are laid bare.
This is my third time watching this film.... Read more ›
So, it is with great respect that we see here his last work made in his native Britain. It actually runs more akin to a French drama, where honest and thorough characterization helps us get to know the people, acted without ceremony or pretension.
The film's structure is beautifully laid out, it's quite complex, yet we are never left confused but are gently guided into place by each unfolding drama. Jude Law is beautifully natural, a human being who could be living in the next street, working in our local town centre. His family and life are very believable, with anxieties about their daughter putting a strain on both him and his Swedish partner (Robin Wright Penn).
It is however, the shadier side to life that both provides the substance and the downfalls all round. After break-ins at his posh architecture's office, a whole series of dramas unfold, that involve others. Some are obvious and direct, others are subtle and take their time. The film always allows both us and the characters room to breathe, which is how real life actually is.
Juliette Binoche, a favourite French brunette actress of mine is also superb, her nuanced and finely balanced performance expresses all the anxiety and paranoia of a Bosnian refugee, with a son, who is trying to make good in difficult circumstances. When Will Francis (Law) starts a relationship with her, after he has clothes altered by her, all the pieces of the puzzle are laid bare.
This is my third time watching this film.... Read more ›
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Keith M
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:DVD
This 2006 film written and directed by the late Anthony Minghella has a number of promising elements to its story of modern London living, but (for me) does not really add up to the sum of its parts. This may be as a result of Minghella attempting to address too wide a canvas of social issues (dysfunctional families, immigrant communities, urban regeneration, inner-city crime, middle class aspirations, mid-life crises, etc) or, probably more likely, that the film's application (narrative, casting, realism, etc) is just not up to the mark.
Starting with the more positive elements, at the heart of Breaking And Entering is Juliette Binoche's 'single mother', Bosnian Muslim immigrant, Amira, whose errant, truant-playing son Miro (Rafi Gavron), moonlights as part of Serbian-led gang of burglars, whose latest target is the premises of architects Will (Jude Law) and Sandy (Martin Freeman, who is, well, Martin Freeman), who are currently working on revamping the old Kings Cross site in London. For me, Binoche is currently one of the world's finest actresses, and, although her performance here eventually succumbs to the film's later, rather trite romantic plotting, she is still outstanding as the increasingly desperate mother. The other major strand to Breaking And Entering's plot is that of Will's dysfunctional family, comprising an impressive Robin Wright as Liv, Swedish-American partner of Will, and eccentric (borderline autistic) daughter Bea. Again, although Will of course becomes part of the later sugary romance (as having traced Miro back to his home, he immediately falls for his mother), Law's performance here is probably the best I have seen from him (which is not saying that much, I admit), nicely restrained and emotionally quite complex.... Read more ›
Starting with the more positive elements, at the heart of Breaking And Entering is Juliette Binoche's 'single mother', Bosnian Muslim immigrant, Amira, whose errant, truant-playing son Miro (Rafi Gavron), moonlights as part of Serbian-led gang of burglars, whose latest target is the premises of architects Will (Jude Law) and Sandy (Martin Freeman, who is, well, Martin Freeman), who are currently working on revamping the old Kings Cross site in London. For me, Binoche is currently one of the world's finest actresses, and, although her performance here eventually succumbs to the film's later, rather trite romantic plotting, she is still outstanding as the increasingly desperate mother. The other major strand to Breaking And Entering's plot is that of Will's dysfunctional family, comprising an impressive Robin Wright as Liv, Swedish-American partner of Will, and eccentric (borderline autistic) daughter Bea. Again, although Will of course becomes part of the later sugary romance (as having traced Miro back to his home, he immediately falls for his mother), Law's performance here is probably the best I have seen from him (which is not saying that much, I admit), nicely restrained and emotionally quite complex.... Read more ›
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3.6 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Undiscovered little gem
Though I consider myself to be something of a cineaste, I can't be quite as much of a one as I thought, because until I came across this film in a charity shop I'd never heard of... Read more
Published 13 months ago by J. Rottweiller Swinburne
1.0 out of 5 stars
Stay away from this rubbish
I think the people who write reviews on here for movies are normally spot on but I've no idea how some have given this 5 star. Read more
Published 15 months ago by thematrixchamber
2.0 out of 5 stars
Snooze fest of note
Considering the amount of raw (and not so raw ) talent on display I found it difficult to concentrate on this movie for more than 15 minutes. It is slow, very slow, almost glacial. Read more
Published on 14 Sep 2010 by Soapy Tyler
1.0 out of 5 stars
Runs the full gamut of emotion from A to B
This is dire one.
Jude Law ? don't talk to me about Jude Law.....there isn't a paper bag thin enough for him to act his way out of.
Jude Law ? don't talk to me about Jude Law.....there isn't a paper bag thin enough for him to act his way out of.
Published on 14 July 2010 by Woody
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great cast...
...great characters, nice london locations - beautifully shot - and a wonderful anthony minghella script
Published on 23 May 2010 by MJ
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great film
Fabulous film staring Jude Law in a great role. This is a deep story and very meaningful movie, which I enjoyed. Read more
Published on 10 Jun 2009 by Gabrielle Stranraer
2.0 out of 5 stars
Looks good, but doesn't deliver
This film begins intriguingly enough and seems to be building tension, and although Jude Law and Juliette Binoche are very attractive to look enough, there is a curious flatness to... Read more
Published on 9 Feb 2009 by Barbara R. Anderson
1.0 out of 5 stars
Even Ray Winstone couldn't save this one..........
I rented this on the premise that Ray Winstone doesn't appear in too many poor films &, lo & behold, this proves to be one of the exceptions to that rule. Read more
Published on 3 July 2008 by Sizzle
3.0 out of 5 stars
Watch it to see what it could have been
For seven years I lived in Paddington, and I worked with the regeneration people, so when I realised that this film was all about redeveloping a seedy neighbourhood, I was hooked. Read more
Published on 8 Jun 2008 by William Cohen
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