The Book of Eve (2002)

User Rating:

4.9/10   

Director:

Claude Fournier

Writers:

Constance Beresford-Howe (novel)
Claude Fournier (screenplay)

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

Homelessness | Separation | Marriage | Pawnshop | Mother Child Relationship

Cast

Claire Bloom	...	Eva Smallwood
Daniel Lavoie	...	Johnny Brancusi
Susannah York	...	May
Julian Glover	...	Burt Smallwood
Marie-Jo Therio	...	Jeanne LeBlanc
Luck Mervil	...	Cab Driver 1
Angèle Coutu	...	Madame Plante
Paul Herzberg	...	Neil Smallwood
Ted Whittall	...	Martin Elkins
Leon Lissek	...	Sam
Pamela Salem	...	Goldie
Pascale Devigne	...	Rosemary
Fanny La Croix	...	Kim
Dan Bigras	...	Brian Turmel
Vlasta Vrana	...	Steve Lock

Also Known As:

Histoire d'Ève (Canada: French title)

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Finland:K-15 | Finland:K-3 | Australia:M | Canada:A (Ontario) | Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

Montréal, Québec, Canada

Company:

Focus Films

Criminal adaptation of the book

Let me get this out of the way first - I absolutely loved the book and was consequently appalled at what happened along the way on its transition to this shallow, hackneyed, over-acted movie.

I have loved Claire Bloom for years but here she is grotesque, all gestures and wide-eyed enunciations as if she were on stage. Truly a string of false notes from start to finish of her desperate performance.

There is absolutely no chemistry between herself and Johnny played by Daniel Lavoie who is himself drawn in the most despicable of Eastern European caricatures, all brains, pitiful accented English and unrecognized talent, oozing sexuality and not fussy about whom he gloms it on to.

Alcoholic too to blur the edges and allow a good older Canadian woman to show him the error of his ways. Susannah York is wasted as well, pulled into some gluey stagey dialogue with her old friend Eva. Cringe making. Appalling. Avoid.

3 out of 10.