Three out of
Five stars
Running time:
118 mins
Enjoyable, handsomely made drama with a well written script and strong performances from a superb cast.
What's it all about?
Directed by Richard Attenborough, Closing the Ring stars Shirley Maclaine as Ethel Ann, a recently widowed woman who has never bonded emotionally with her daughter, Marie (Neve Campbell). Meanwhile, in Belfast, a young boy (Martin McCann as Jimmy) finds a ring buried in the ground with Ethel's name on it and decides to trace the owner.
The funeral causes Ethel Ann to flash back to the past, when she was a young woman (now played by Mischa Barton) and her beloved husband Teddy (Stephen Amell) went off to war with his best friends Chuck (David Alpay) and Jack (Gregory Smith), both of whom were also in love with Ethel. However, when Jimmy arrives in America with the ring, Ethel's long-kept secrets finally come to light.
The Good
The script, by debut screenwriter Peter Woodward (son of Edward), is well structured and keeps you guessing until the end, even if you twig one of the main twists early on (it's worth paying attention to the corresponding names in the wartime scenes and the present day scenes). The film also looks terrific, with crisp, colourful photography courtesy of cinematographer Roger Pratt.
The performances are excellent, particularly Shirley Maclaine, who stifles her usual larger-than-life persona to genuinely moving effect. There's also strong support from Christopher Plummer (as the grown-up Jack) and Mischa Barton (whose unexpected nude scenes are sure to do wonders for the DVD sales), alongside impressive turns from newcomers Martin McCann and Gregory Smith.
The Bad
The film's biggest problem is its terrible title, though it'll probably quickly become known as that film where Mischa Barton goes topless. In addition, it seems odd that a drama so concerned with emotional closure leaves at least one character completely out in the cold.
Worth seeing?
Closing the Ring is a watchable, well written and frequently moving Sunday afternoon drama with terrific performances from the entire cast. Worth seeing.