In these types of contemporary dramatic roles, Tom Wilkinson is among the best.
From the outside, the bourgeoisie seem to live the perfect life, but leave it to the movies to disturb the life of champagne wishes and caviar dreams – those who can afford maids are most often the ones who get sideswiped by external elements. Screenwriter Julian Fellowes’ directorial debut breathes the Cold War into the Buckinghamshire countryside, providing for a perfectly seasoned marriage drama spliced with certain items normally found in an Agatha Christie novel. This savory tale about alliances and allegiances probes its players at every turn – the dilemma here is not who is consummating with who, but where one’s loyalty lies with.
Based on an adaptation of Nigel Balchin’s 50’s novel “A Way Through the Wood”, Separate Lies seems to be a natural progression for Fellowes for whom the class system and all its accompanying secrets was highlighted in her script for Gosford Park. Sticking a thorn into the side of those who seem to have all the answers, this narrative is surprising not because of the non-alarming plot twists but because how the principle character’s range of emotions, his strengths and his weaknesses get explored and get exploited and how the moral issues that adjoin the film are dealt with in this prim and proper paradigm.
The entertainment factor of the film come from Rupert Everett and Emily Watson who are beautiful to watch in there beautiful ugly people stances, but it is Wilkinson’s deeply bewildered gentlemen act that provides more of the cerebral pleasure. While the material could have easily fallen into corniness – it certainly hovers over that territory, there is an efficiency with the film’s pacing and the plot progression makes so that the film doesn’t spend too much time filtering the emotions, but rather immerses itself in the psyche of the protagonist (Wilkinson) examining which side does he stay on and at whose expense.
London high-rise locations and the back ends of SUV’s juxtaposed with well-groomed gardens and colorful afternoon snacks give the film a decadent enjoyment level – there is something about cricket matches on Sundays and people politely stabbing one another in the back that makes Separate Lies a fun adult watch. Fellowes enjoys giving this world of bad behavior a thorough spanking, but she also adds an interesting plate full of emotional layers. For best viewing conditions, this should be viewed after 4 p.m. and after tea and biscuits.
