The End of the Affair

1999

The End of the Affair

Critics Consensus

Neil Jordan has good direction with solid performances from Ralph Fiennes and Julianne Moore.

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Oof, that was Rotten.

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Awesome!

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The End of the Affair Photos

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Movie Info

On a rainy London night in 1946, novelist Maurice Bendrix has a chance meeting with Henry Miles, husband of his ex-mistress Sarah, who abruptly ended their affair two years before. Bendrix's obsession with Sarah is rekindled; he succumbs to his own jealousy and arranges to have her followed. As the investigation progresses, we learn the reason for their separation. During a bombing raid, Sarah struck a bargain with God to sacrifice their relationship-in exchange for Bendrix's life. When Bendrix reappears in her life, Sarah realizes that her promise to God has become impossible for her to keep. She is placed in a spiritual dilemma as she struggles with her continuing love for her former lover in the face of the realization that she is fatally ill.

Rating:

R (for scenes of strong sexuality)
Genre:

Drama, Romance
Directed By:

Neil Jordan
Written By:

Neil Jordan
In Theaters:

Dec 3, 1999 wide
On Disc/Streaming:

May 16, 2000
Runtime:

105 minutes
Studio:

Columbia Pictures

Cast

Ralph Fiennes
as Maurice Bendrix

Julianne Moore
as Sarah Miles

Stephen Rea
as Henry Miles

Ian Hart
as Mr. Parkis

Jason Isaacs
as Father Smythe

Sam Bould
as Lance Parkis

James Bolam
as Mr. Savage

Deborah Findlay
as Miss Smythe

Simon Turner
as Doctor Gilbert

Heather Jay Jones
as Henry's Maid

Nicholas Hewetson
as Chief Warden

Penny Morrell
as Bendrix's Landlady

Cyril Shaps
as Waiter

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Critic Reviews for The End of the Affair

All Critics (66) | Top Critics (16) | Fresh (44) | Rotten (22)

Quote not available.

April 25, 2003 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

Globe and Mail
Top Critic
Quote not available.

June 18, 2002 | Rating: 2.5/4

Jay Carr
Boston Globe
Top Critic
An effective love story that's intensely old-fashioned.

January 1, 2000 | Full Review…

Paul Tatara
CNN.com
Top Critic
The elegance of Roger Pratt's camera and the handsome costuming create a tension between the stately surface world and the raw passion of the characters.

January 1, 2000

Robert Horton
Film.com
Top Critic
For all its obvious psychoanalytic implications, [Jordan's] wacky romantic triangle lost me long before it crawled to its spiritualist conclusion.

January 1, 2000

J. Hoberman
Village Voice
Top Critic
Jordan proves again that he is a supreme storyteller of complex human dramas.

January 1, 2000

Emanuel Levy
Variety
Top Critic
Quote not available.

December 6, 2005 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

Film Threat
The whole thing is beyond purple and yet so careful and reverent you can't even enjoy it as camp.

November 19, 2005 | Full Review…

Alan Dale
Blogcritics.org
But the biggest flaw in Neil Jordan's movie is how severely it contradicts the core of Graham Greene's novel.... What a sad and melancholy piece of work.

December 6, 2004 | Rating: C | Full Review…

Jeffrey Overstreet
Looking Closer
Quote not available.

May 20, 2003 | Rating: 3.5/4

Jim Shelby
Palo Alto Weekly
Writer/director Neil Jordan takes the right approach to the material. Instead of trying to spruce it up, he simply moves in closer.

March 27, 2003 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid
Quote not available.

February 8, 2003 | Rating: 4.5/5 | Full Review…

John R. McEwen
Film Quips Online

View All Critic Reviews (66)

Audience Reviews for The End of the Affair

May 12, 2019

Neil Jordan created a slow burning drama film that the trailer paints as a thriller. The film is amazing to watch and only the overbearing plot grinds a little too much. Great acting and a film that is worthy of more attention. Jordan is an expert at these slow burning plots and it's a shame it didn't become his niche I the market. 11/05/2019

Brendan N Super Reviewer
Aug 21, 2012

I wanted to like this, but I just couldn't. Even though it was less than 2 hours long, it felt much longer.

Erin C Super Reviewer
Jan 07, 2012

Based on a novel by Graham Greene, this is a romantic drama set during World War II that is in many ways a standard love triangle involving a guy, his best friend, and the best friend's wife. There's lies, deception, and a torrid affair. Some of this is compelling, but overall the basic plot isn't all that unique or interesting, and this isn't the best variation on a theme. However, the period details, costumes, sets, etc are well done, and the acting is what ultimately makes this a good film worth watching. Stephen Rea is good as the nervous, henecked husband, Ralph Fiennes is great as the stuffy 40s intellectual madly in love with his friend's wife, and Julianne Moore is sublime as the wife, giving a very nuanced performance. It's also a plus that this is one of several films where she shows her willingness to do love scenes and show the goods, especially a memorabele scene where bombs literally go off during the heat of the moment. All in all, this is a fine enough period drama, even if it's not the most compelling or memorable. Neil jordan knows how to stage these things, and the acting is ultiamtely what makes it worth a recommendation.

Chris W Super Reviewer
Jan 24, 2010

Or as I like to call this movie; GROPE. lol I absolutely adore RALPH FIENNES. But i just didnt really find myself enjoying this movie that much.. Julianne Moores character seems almost too self-pitying and whinny as some points. In this movie I actually thought that the actor that stood out the most for me was Stephen Rea. He was quite good. Never bitter or hating as you would expect a man in his position would be. Very well acted. All in all i dont really think I would watch this movie again, not even for Ralph. Near the end when we find out WHY Moores Character broke of the relationship, i just thought it was rediculous!! Very unbelieveable...

Morgan S Super Reviewer