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''First love is alright as far as it goes, last love that's what I'm interested in.''
Two feisty, free-spirited women are connected by the brilliant, charismatic poet who loves them both.
Keira Knightley: Vera Phillips
Sienna Miller: Caitlin MacNamara
The Edge Of Love obviously is a drama set in the mist of World War 2 in London and the beautiful Welsch Countryside. You could say Edge of Love is in the same style of Atonement.
I found it hugely amusing that Keira Kinghtley now has a love interest in the guise of Irish actor Cillian Murphy's William Killick, whereas in Atonement it was Scottish James McAvoy.
Anyway back to Edge of Love and the scenario that comes into light. We have Dylan Thomas played by Matthew Rhys who I don't recollect seeing before, we have his wife Caitlin portrayed by Sienna Miller then we have Keira Knightley who is Vera Phillips a childhood flame from Dylan's past.
Let's face it the plot isn't exactly original we have all seen films which give us a love triangle scenario. But Edge of Love does it in a way that makes the journey compelling to watch. Into this trio's life quite soon emerges William Killick, who is played by Cillian Murphy as I mentioned, who falls for Vera and becomes involved with her having the obvious advantage over Dylan in the fact he is unmarried. What transpires is a drama that involves William going off to war only for Dylan and Vera to have a rekindling of their childhood love. Edge of Love is a WW2 drama piece that shows electrifying performances from all players.
Whether it be Sienna Miller's out going do what she likes Caitlin or Keira's faceted dimensional Vera it's wonderfully depicted.
Edge of Love also shows a friendship between these two and a bond that in essence shows the delicate intricacies of the female and their reaction toward each other.
The chemistry I felt was stronger even than that of Cillian Murphy & Keira especially the last scenes where the two leads totally grasp emotion and flair not just in their words but in their eyes too which to me is and was beautiful.
Dylan was a character who was interesting but I tended to dislike for the movie due to his surprisingly selfish choices and arrogant ways. Misusing his poet skills for a cowardly way out of War and ending up with no money or determination to do the right thing even in a grueling court case in which he should of not done what he did.
Cillian Murphy also has some powerful scenes near the latter part of how the War has effected him and how if pushed, how easy it is to just snap and be forced into violent and retaliative action.
Keira and Sienna also pull off and attempt to muster Welsh accents which was very amusing to hear them do. In my opinion Keira had a more profound performance and beauty due to her stylized, colourful life depicted of her in the Underground singing for the people as the bombs are being dropped above.
The costumes, uses of footage back in the day, locations, the casual, frequent smoking by all the characters and the effective props all help capture the feel and quality of the period.
Edge of Love gives us a story that really shows an array of people and how their lives are ultimately effected by one another, in this regard it succeeds in it's detailed emotional study of love, loss and newfound aspects of life.
8/10
