8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Ultimately effective, performance-driven story, October 27, 2001
This review is from: Denial [VHS] (VHS Tape)
Two people stand at the edge of a cliff overlooking the sea. A young man holds a young woman close to him from behind her, their faces troubled. She urges them closer to the edge, and throws her weight forward, as if attempting to take them both over the precipice. He clutches her fast to him, however, and says, "Do you think that's the only way we'll be together?"
And so begins "Denial", starring Jason Patric and Robin Wright-Penn, a story about coming to terms with lost love. And it's a promising beginning, too. Patric is the righteous and moody Michael; Wright-Penn's character is Sara, a free-spirited yet self-absorbed girl who flits about somewhat thoughtlessly in her youth, unaware until it's too late just what kind of damage she is doing to Michael, and ultimately, herself. Lovers in their youth, Michael and Sara (who everyone calls "Loon" in her younger years because of her impetuous nature) share a passion that is overshadowed by Michael's unhappiness with her superficiality, and even as in love as they are, it finally splits them apart.
Years later, we find Sara living a quiet, domestic life. She has become a person of substance and character- the very things Michael had been upset to find her lacking. Enter Rae-Don Chong, a shared friend from years past who brings back a flood of memories for Sara. Old wounds ripped anew, she struggles to come to terms with the love she lost, ending in a heart-wrenching climax that is perhaps Wright-Penn's finest acting to date.
This movie does have its problems; the pace moves ponderously... perhaps too much so at times. Also, it takes awhile to distinguish past from present as the story moves back and forth in time. But apart from the odd moment of poor timing and direction, this film shines through as an incredibly well-performed story of a woman's transformation and reconciliation with her past. However, without Wright-Penn's thoughtful and compelling performance and that of the supporting cast, this film would not have been worth seeing.
I highly recommend it to those who would appreciate a beautifully performed piece about lost love, and do not mind a movie that takes it's time.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
a movie that has hidden spirit, December 5, 1999
This review is from: Denial [VHS] (VHS Tape)
This is a very deep, emotional story of a young woman and her incompetence of forgeting a relationship that ended years ago. Through her memories Sarah(Loon), is blaming herself for not being more dedicated to her boyfriend and for being too concered with her friends' impressions of her. Music in this movie is also very touching and after I saw this movie for the first time, I became a big fan of Robin Wright Penn. I agree with many of the costumers that this movie isn't for everyone. I guess I liked it so much because the main character(Sarah)has such emotional soul and in many ways reminds me of my own personality.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
horrible except for..., March 31, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: Denial [VHS] (VHS Tape)
David Duchovny, of course! the only reason i purchased this video, not from Amazon, but nevertheless, is to see the hottest man alove---David Duchovny. He looks sooooo hot in that cowboy hat. I wish i was Robin Wright for a few minutes. :) The movie is BAD. But if you're a DD fan, check it out, and prepare for a lot of fast forwarding. Bye.
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