This was the first Nikki French novel i read, years ago. the book was good enough, and sinister enough to put me off the whole silent brooding type thing. But when the movie came along in 2002, with Joseph Fiennes playing the sinister silent brooder, i was thrilled (any fiennes is fine by me). except that the bad reviews (no chemistry, just gratuitous sex, poor acting, etc) got to me before i reached the movie ticket booth and i decided i'd give it a 4-year miss.

until i picked it up for $6.99 at the re-used dvd section. this way, no guilt. and good thing i did too. most of the movie is really, really bad. all of the soundtrack is really, really bad (i think it might actually be the theme song from madame butterfly, on repeat and repeat and repeat, but i might be wrong). And to say the directing was contrived is a really, really severe understatement. the critics did not do justice to how truly atrocious this movie is. the sex is fun enough to watch, but it's hard not to wonder if, while executing the scenes, the actors could feel their ears pop from the pressure of the movie sinking at breakneck speed.

The only saving grace is the ending, which surprised me because it was nothing like the ending in the book. I liked it and for that, i recommend the movie for when you're doing something else. like ironing.