 | Starring: Christopher Eccleston, Dervla Kirwan, Yvan Attal, Julie Graham, Alun Armstrong Director: Michael Winterbottom Format: PAL Released: 03 Dec 2001 RRP: Average Rating:  |
Winterbottom is here aided by a strong cast, which features regular collaborator Christopher Eccleston alongside former Goodnight Sweetheart/Balllykissangel star Dervla Kirwan as the couple going through a series of personal-problems, whilst such impressive performers as Julie Graham, Yvan Attal, Alun Armstrong, Doon Mackichan & Fionnula Flanagan fill in the supporting roles. The film is given a fragment of originality through Wintebottom’s use of cinematic technique, with many of the images often composed so as to appear as windows within windows... sort of like what Peter Greenaway did with Prospero & the Pillow Book. There’s no real need for this device here, other than the fact that it seems to conform to the director’s view of the material as a sort of Godardian retelling of Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs, complete with the evil mystery woman, a forest scene & many, many attempts at mirror symbolism.
Winterbottom is an intelligent filmmaker, & it is this intelligence that makes even his most insipid films (this is one of them) at least watch-able on a first-hand level. The film’s climax on the beach seems like a direct reference to Godard’s Pierre Le Fu & Weekend respectively, whilst for a film that aims it’s self so squarely at the made for TV demographic, there sure are a great deal of adventurous (and somewhat explicit) sex scenes peppered throughout. With Or Without You does now, seem somewhat out of place on the filmmaker’s CV (which also features the award winners, 24 Hour Party People & In This World), though despite it’s bland plotting & MOR characterisations, it does at least offer an hour & a half of easy-to-digest, undemanding entertainment.
Below are some of the current bestsellers - click them for a price comparison and find the cheapest place to buy!
