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Product Description
Academy Award Winner Natalie Portman (Black Swan) lights up the screen in this frank, funny, and heart-wrenching adaptation of bestselling author Ayelet Waldman s novel about life, loss, and family.
Emilia (Portman) is a Harvard law school graduate and a newlywed, after falling in love with her already married high-powered boss Jack (Scott Cohen, Love & Other Drugs), when she began working at his law firm.
Unfortunately, Emilia s life takes an unexpected turn following the sudden death of her and Jack s newborn daughter. Devastated, Emilia struggles through her grief and tries to forge a connection with her precocious new stepson William (Charlie Tahan, I Am Legend), whilst also trying to cope with the constant interferences of her husband s angry, jealous ex-wife, Carolyn (Lisa Kudrow, Friends).
Can Emilia rediscover her own capacity for love in time to salvage her failing marriage and build a family from the wreckage?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Tim Kidner
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:DVD
Natalie Portman plays well the young mother who's caught in a cycle of anguish and torment, over the death of her baby daughter and her new relationship with her married boss and his young son, who's lactose intolerant. It's further complicated by her own son's upheaval and current husband's feelings.
As such characters in real life tend to have most of us walking the other way, so convincingly does she play such a person, that the resulting film is both rather maudlin and frankly, a little boring. We don't really want to be bothered by such seemingly trite 'problems'.
Especially as it's elongated to nearly 100 minutes. A slow pace and rather depressing music don't help. Lisa Kudrow (Friends) doesn't convince as the wife of Jack (Emilia's - Portman - boss) who as a doctor has occasional, but surprisingly disquieting conflicts with Emilia.
Not being a parent myself - and male, possibly, I'm sure doesn't help me get into the groove of the story and I'm sure those who can associate with such life experiences can find a lot to connect with.
It's not a bad film, though, just not 'me'. I saw it on Sky Movies.
As such characters in real life tend to have most of us walking the other way, so convincingly does she play such a person, that the resulting film is both rather maudlin and frankly, a little boring. We don't really want to be bothered by such seemingly trite 'problems'.
Especially as it's elongated to nearly 100 minutes. A slow pace and rather depressing music don't help. Lisa Kudrow (Friends) doesn't convince as the wife of Jack (Emilia's - Portman - boss) who as a doctor has occasional, but surprisingly disquieting conflicts with Emilia.
Not being a parent myself - and male, possibly, I'm sure doesn't help me get into the groove of the story and I'm sure those who can associate with such life experiences can find a lot to connect with.
It's not a bad film, though, just not 'me'. I saw it on Sky Movies.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By BPR
Format:Blu-ray
Love and Other Impossible Pursuits is an adaptation based upon the book of the same name by Ayelet Waldman and went widely unnoticed during it's very limited theatrical release with a gross of barely $20,000, despite the star power behind it. Unfortunately, it is rather underwhelming. A strong subject matter, the screenplay and how it has been brought to screen is rather cliched (note, I have not read the book so unsure how close it is), and whilst there are some quite powerful moments, such as seeing the picture of the family William has drawn, the story is formulaic and doesn't feel like it is anything you haven't seen before. There are some noteworthy performances from Scott Cohen, Natalie Portman and Charlie Tahan, but I do have to wonder how Lisa Kudrow manages to get work as she is the weak link (though she is a regular for drector Don Roos). Worth a look, but nothing new. 3/5
If you are deaf or hard of hearing, please note the UK rental Blu-ray which I viewed contained no subtitles. I cannot confirm if the retail Blu-ray release does.
If you are deaf or hard of hearing, please note the UK rental Blu-ray which I viewed contained no subtitles. I cannot confirm if the retail Blu-ray release does.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I was sceptical about this film given the poor reviews, but decided to buy it anyways. I wasn't going to leave a review, but this film has been wrongfully slated, just because it isn't a Hollywood blockbuster, it's a film about how hard life is and I was hugely surprised at how good the film was.
The back and fourth between past and present in the film really adds to its captivation. I think if it just would of played out in chronological order it would be a watchable film rather than good. The exploration of how Amelia (Natalie Portman) deals with being the perfect new wife and step-mum is really interesting and makes you think what would you do in her situation.
It doesn't have cliche happy ending as such, and the obstacles she goes through, where most of us would through ourselves under a bus in her shoes, Amelia is quite a realistic non perfect character and this is what made it a vey good watch as you can relate to having faults and daily stress yourself. The daily struggle to keep her relationship up with her new husband is very intriguing indeed. It does make you come away from the film, with a wholesome feeling and is comparable thematically to The Blind Side, which isn't a Hollywood action packed film as I said, just a humble film about people and life.
The back and fourth between past and present in the film really adds to its captivation. I think if it just would of played out in chronological order it would be a watchable film rather than good. The exploration of how Amelia (Natalie Portman) deals with being the perfect new wife and step-mum is really interesting and makes you think what would you do in her situation.
It doesn't have cliche happy ending as such, and the obstacles she goes through, where most of us would through ourselves under a bus in her shoes, Amelia is quite a realistic non perfect character and this is what made it a vey good watch as you can relate to having faults and daily stress yourself. The daily struggle to keep her relationship up with her new husband is very intriguing indeed. It does make you come away from the film, with a wholesome feeling and is comparable thematically to The Blind Side, which isn't a Hollywood action packed film as I said, just a humble film about people and life.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Clichéd and unconvincing
The fact that Natalie Portman is a brilliant actress who I adore was nowhere near enough to save this film for me. Read more
Published 23 days ago by Looking Glass
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant
I am a big fan of Natalie Portman from her role in Star Wars so I was eager to watch this film. It is totally worth giving it a chance. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Chels91
5.0 out of 5 stars
A gem.
EXTREMELY underrated, Natalie Portman is fantastic as a woman who has an affair with a married man then her child dies, the acting is superb and heart-warming.
Published 10 months ago by Arif Erdogan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great film
I watched this film to fill a lazy Sunday morning and I loved it. Natalie portman was perfect at portraying a woman dealing with a failing marriage, difficult step child and a... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Sunshineruthie
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great cast / really touching story
A very touching and sad story which might give hope and light to people in similar life situations. The cast is amazing and brought tears into my eyes. Read more
Published 12 months ago by nh2005
5.0 out of 5 stars
A possible pursuit
This movie blew me away, people may hate it others like myself love it. Natalie Portman gives an emotional and breathtaking performance and shows her abilities as an Academy Award... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Sean :)
1.0 out of 5 stars
please dont waste 90 minutes of your life with this film
A truly ghastly experience!! vapid empty performances ~ Portman has to be the worst actress ever to receive an academy award ~ a cheerless tale made into a worthless cloying film... Read more
Published 14 months ago by David Spanswick
4.0 out of 5 stars
Touching..
After reading reviews I was worthy of purchasing the DVD. However, I am very glad that I did. It shows how emotionally difficult it is once losing a child and you feel for her. Read more
Published 15 months ago by dvdlover
1.0 out of 5 stars
Very painful to watch
I found this film very, very painful to watch. It was tedious and the kid was annoyingly precocious and pretentious. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Steve
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