Product Details

• Actors: Joely Richardson, Aden Young, Molly Parker, Kevin Phillip, Krisha Fairchild
• Directors: Meg Richman
• Writers: Meg Richman, Henry James
• Producers: Brian Swardstrom, Mickey Liddell, Paddy Cullen, Robin Schorr
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Allumination
• VHS Release Date: May 18, 1999
• Run Time: 115 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 1578482283
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #315,465 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Although the concept sounds like something out of MTV hell--Henry James's The Wings of the Dove flies into the Seattle grunge scene--writer-director Meg Richman has fashioned a stunning and assured debut out of this modern-day reworking of the 1902 novel. Whereas Iain Softley's 1997 adaptation tried for something like Edwardian film noir, Richman opts for a take that may skimp on costumes but is far more lush on an emotional scale. Richman's plot is a loose adaptation of James, as a poor young woman (Molly Parker) takes a job as caretaker to a wealthy cancer patient (Joely Richardson) and arranges for her musician boyfriend (Aden Young) to pose as her half-brother in order to seduce the dying woman into leaving him all her money. If the triangle falters anywhere, it's in the problematic conception of the scheming lead character (Cynthia here, Kate in the novel), who's saddled with being paradoxically duplicitous and sincere in contrast with two much more sympathetic characters. Parker, usually an actress of amazing clarity, plays Cynthia with an unsuitable Real World flakiness and doesn't gain a foothold against her two costars until the end of the film. But it's those costars who send the love story of In the Shadows sailing into the stratosphere. Richardson and Young are a combustive and passionate duo, and make this unlikely mating a heartbreaking union of two souls whose common ground is an inability to express any kind of false emotion. Richardson is unsentimental and incredibly moving as she figures out what's happening and decides to use it for her own ends, and Young makes a surprisingly sexy and winning suitor; inarticulateness was never more attractive. Richman proves you don't need corsets and fancy hats to get at the heart of Henry James. Before falling victim to the bankruptcy of its original distributor, this fine film was more aptly titled Under Heaven when it played at various film festivals in 1998. --Mark Englehart

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very engaging, October 10, 2001

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: In the Shadows [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I rented this movie on a whim and was delighted to find I'd stumbled upon one of the best films I'd seen in quite some time. I loved the way the story followed the growth of the three central characters, and how profoundly (and interestingly) they changed as a result of their lives colliding. The main love scene was emotionally moving, very unconventional, and HOT! I cried my way through a half box of Kleenex by the time this movie was over, got up the next morning, and watched it all over again. Seeing it twice made me realize what a simple, yet rich, film it really is--a rare achievement nowadays. I highly recommend it.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent movie and excellent service Amazon!!!, August 14, 2011

By 

Stratoale (Mexico City, Mexico) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: In the Shadows (DVD)

Everything went great with my purchase in Amazon, the service was fast as always, the product was in great condition and I cannot complain,... is great to continuing purchasing in Amazon and I`m sure I`ll do it.

Alex

Regards from Mexico City

5.0 out of 5 stars I can't believe it, November 17, 2003

By 

Rodolfo Dei Castelli (Argentina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In the Shadows (DVD)

one of the best dramas i have ever seen