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Possession

  • 2002
  • PG-13
  • 1h 42m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
14K
YOUR RATING
Jennifer Ehle, Jeremy Northam, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Aaron Eckhart in Possession (2002)
Theatrical Trailer from USA Films
Play trailer1:46
1 Video
45 Photos
DramaMysteryRomance

A pair of literary sleuths unearth the amorous secret of two Victorian poets only to find themselves falling under a passionate spell.A pair of literary sleuths unearth the amorous secret of two Victorian poets only to find themselves falling under a passionate spell.A pair of literary sleuths unearth the amorous secret of two Victorian poets only to find themselves falling under a passionate spell.

  • Director
    • Neil LaBute
  • Writers
    • A.S. Byatt
    • David Henry Hwang
    • Laura Jones
  • Stars
    • Gwyneth Paltrow
    • Aaron Eckhart
    • Jeremy Northam
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.3/10
    14K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Neil LaBute
    • Writers
      • A.S. Byatt
      • David Henry Hwang
      • Laura Jones
    • Stars
      • Gwyneth Paltrow
      • Aaron Eckhart
      • Jeremy Northam
    • 184User reviews
    • 84Critic reviews
    • 52Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Videos1

    Possession (2002)
    Trailer 1:46
    Watch Possession (2002)

    Photos45

    Gwyneth Paltrow and Aaron Eckhart in Possession (2002)
    Jennifer Ehle and Jeremy Northam in Possession (2002)
    Gwyneth Paltrow and Aaron Eckhart in Possession (2002)
    Gwyneth Paltrow in Possession (2002)
    Aaron Eckhart in Possession (2002)
    Jeremy Northam in Possession (2002)
    Jennifer Ehle in Possession (2002)
    Gwyneth Paltrow and Aaron Eckhart in Possession (2002)
    Jennifer Ehle and Jeremy Northam in Possession (2002)
    Gwyneth Paltrow and Aaron Eckhart in Possession (2002)
    Jennifer Ehle and Jeremy Northam in Possession (2002)
    Jennifer Ehle, Jeremy Northam, and Neil LaBute in Possession (2002)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Gwyneth Paltrow
    Gwyneth Paltrow
    • Maud Bailey
    Aaron Eckhart
    Aaron Eckhart
    • Roland Michell
    Jeremy Northam
    Jeremy Northam
    • Randolph Henry Ash
    Jennifer Ehle
    Jennifer Ehle
    • Christabel LaMotte
    Lena Headey
    Lena Headey
    • Blanche Glover
    Holly Aird
    Holly Aird
    • Ellen Ash
    Toby Stephens
    Toby Stephens
    • Fergus Wolfe
    Trevor Eve
    Trevor Eve
    • Cropper
    Tom Hickey
    Tom Hickey
    • Blackadder
    Georgia Mackenzie
    Georgia Mackenzie
    • Paola
    Tom Hollander
    Tom Hollander
    • Euan
    Graham Crowden
    Graham Crowden
    • Sir George
    Anna Massey
    Anna Massey
    • Lady Bailey
    Craig Crosbie
    Craig Crosbie
    • Hildebrand
    Christopher Good
    Christopher Good
    • Crabb-Robinson
    Elodie Frenck
    Elodie Frenck
    • Sabine
    Victoria Bensted
    • Woman in Hotel
    Shelley Conn
    Shelley Conn
    • Candi
    • Director
      • Neil LaBute
    • Writers
      • A.S. Byatt
      • David Henry Hwang
      • Laura Jones
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      A large part of Church Street in Whitby was dressed to give it the appearance of a 18/19th century fishing town. Gwyneth Paltrow insisted that the whole place was screened off so that she was not visible to the small crowd of on-lookers. Jeremy Northam, however, took time to go and talk about the film to the bystanders. Miss Paltrow also turned down an offer from the local dignitaries to meet the mayor and be shown around the town. The Whitby Gazette carried a massive banner headline declaring "PALTROW SNUBS WHITBY".
    • Goofs
      Everyone was handling rare, old documents with their bare hands. Anyone doing this kind of research would know to wear gloves to protect the fragile paper. Gwyneth Paltrow handled them with blithe disregard because her mother is Blythe Danner.
    • Quotes

      Christabel LaMotte: I cannot let you burn me up, nor can I resist you. No mere human can stand in a fire and not be consumed.

    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: xXx/Spy Kids 2/Possession (2002)
    • Soundtracks
      Possesso
      Performed by Ramón Vargas

      Conducted by Gabriel Yared

      Music by Gabriel Yared

      Original lyrics by Peter Gosling

      Italian translation: Michela Antonello

      Orchestra leader: Cathy Thompson

      Produced by Gabriel Yared and Graham Walker

    User reviews184

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Attractive, but unremarkable
    Two love stories unfold simultaneously in this attractive, sensitive, but not wholly successful adaptation of a popular novel. Eckhart plays an American literary researcher in England who stumbles upon some long lost and completely unknown love letters by a Victorian poet (who just happens to be having his centenary celebrated!) He pairs with an icy doctoral researcher (Paltrow) and they begin to piece together a heretofore undiscovered relationship between the married poet (Northam) and a fellow poetess (Ehle) who is involved in a long-standing lesbian love affair. The stories are presented in turns, often accented by some clever setups in which the same settings reveal jumps in time. Eckhart (an immensely appealing actor) took a lot of heat for his role which was originally intended for a British actor. His presence changes the entire flavor of the story as it was written in the source novel, yet he comes across as endearing as ever. Paltrow (an agonizingly overrated actress and overrated beauty) looks like Carolyn Bessette Kennedy only with a rigid, showy English accent. Her attention to the accent and to what she believes her character to be results in an almost robotic portrayal and nothing resembling a human being. The Victorian couple generates both interest and romance, yet isn't given the screen time of the contemporary couple. If a STAR hadn't been placed in the modern story, maybe the focus could have been more even and the Victorian story could have been given a touch more emphasis. Still, Northam and Ehle (who bears a striking resemblance to Meryl Streep) manage to make an impact. What was apparently quite enthralling and romantic on the page has become rather routine and familiar on the screen, though there are some lovely and thoughtful moments throughout. Some of the location scenery is gorgeous (as is Eckhart.) A host of British character actors round out the cast with results ranging from strong (Headey, Stephens) to campy (Eve) to wasted (Aird, Massey.) Someone needs to inform Paltrow that an accent, a bun and a turtleneck don't provide the performance alone. Some commitment, expression, thoughtfulness and especially realism are also in order!
    helpful•24
    14
    • Poseidon-3
    • Dec 22, 2003

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • August 30, 2002 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Одержимість
    • Filming locations
      • Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Focus Features
      • Warner Bros.
      • Baltimore Spring Creek Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $25,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $10,113,733
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $1,575,214
      • Aug 18, 2002
    • Gross worldwide
      • $14,815,898
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 42 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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