First time watch for me. 1996 was a bit of a mess for me so that's probably why I missed it.

I found it engaging yet I wasn't swept away... perhaps because of the film's formality. And John Seale's cinematography is of course delicious.

Budget was 27 million. Even for 23 years ago, that's impressive.

Watched on Blu-ray

This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.

The more that I watch this film, the more it creeps up my top 100 film's of all time list. This film is an overlooked gem nowadays, even though it won a lot of awards back in 96.

An undeniable masterpiece and it almost puts every other film ever made to shame. Seriously give it another try if you don't believe me and if you have watched it more than once and you still aren't a fan then what can I say.

The direction and storytelling are impeccable and the cast all around are outstanding! Especially Juliette Binoche! And Ralph Fiennes, Kristin Scott Thomas, Willem Dafoe, Naveen Andrews (brilliant) and Colin Firth and freaking amazing.

Yep, I like this movie just as much as Taxi Driver, 2001 A Space Odyssey, Magnolia and Pulp Fiction...rounding out my top 5 film's.

The lines in this, they do read like poetry. They're so good, I think I could've written them myself. "Mrs Clifton, I believe you still have my book. Now on your back!" "You still have sand in your hair. Now fuck me!" A beautiful film, full of love, compassion, and poetry.

ralph fiennes? more like ralph FINE oh boy he can get it anytime anywhere

A sweeping epic tale of an ill fated love that transcends distance, time and even death!

I found the slow reveal thru a series of flashbacks to be deliriously intoxicating!

Extraordinary performances by one and all! However I felt Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche performances were beyond exceptional!

The visuals were absolutely breathtaking!

Is Colin Firth just available to play a role in every English movie on Earth?

These straights had my heart racing!

The English Patient unavoidably recalls the distinctive appearance of David Lean’s Lawrence of Arabia, in that it is similarly visually beautiful. It's an accomplished adaptation of the 1992 novel from Michael Ondaatje with the screenplay written by Anthony Minghella, who also directed. It contains a fantastic ensemble cast with Ralph Fiennes excellently occupying the title role, and Juliette Binoche is invariably splendid as the French-Canadian nurse Hana.  

Its central concerns involve two romantic relationships, with one told in flashback, and although it's undoubtedly indulgent in places; with Minghella's initial cut having an unrestrained four hours and ten minutes runtime, it's personal examinations of recollection, damage and recovery opens up with mournful fallouts. Ultimately it's the dominant desire in doing the book justice that palpably generates a classically romantic film with meticulously artful production.

Too long, man.

I don't think I really needed to sit through this.

(Watched as part of my "Oscar Best Picture Winners" list)

Great mise en scene but ultimately comes out themeless. Just a fancy, cheesy WWII melodrama.

Me: Wow the desert scenes look absolutely beautiful. I wonder who shot it.

*checks and realises that the cinematographer is John Seale, the same guy who shot Mad Max: Fury Road*

Me: Ah, that makes sense.

B+

This film won best picture and despite not being crazy about it myself I can understand why. The performances are fantastic and the scenery is gorgeous. The film is too long and feels a bit bloated.

Juliette Binoche > weird blonde finger-sucker.

It's le cinéma de papa and much too long, but I do get pleasure from it being shot on location, free of CGI and on film.

I can’t say I particularly liked this film. I found it quite lifeless for the majority of its run time. The only two things that particularly stuck out to me was the relationship between Hana and Kip and the last half hour or so of the film which I really liked. I was going to give it like a 2.5 but the ending was really nice and so I bumped it up to a 3. However all together I was not really a fan.
Also the makeup on Ralph Fiennes looked like a used version of the mask William Sadler wore as the grim reaper in Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey, that is to say, not good.

Seinfeld bem que avisou

“New lovers are nervous and tender, but smash everything. For the heart is an organ of fire.”

“My darling, I'm waiting for you. how long is a day in the dark, or a week? The fire is gone now, and I'm horribly cold. I really ought to drag myself outside but then there would be the sun. I'm afraid I waste the light on the paintings and on writing these words. We die, we die rich with lovers and tribes, tastes we have swallowed, bodies we have entered and swum up like rivers, fears we have hidden in, like this wretched cave. We are the real countries, not the boundaries drawn on maps with the names of powerful men. I know you will come and carry me out into the palace of winds. That's all I've wanted—to walk in such a place with you, with friends, on earth without maps.”

An Average Fare: An epic in the true sense of the word. Beautiful shots of the desert. White people walking around doing things in a middle eastern country. Great performances and a poignant love story made this a worth watch. 

2 Hours And 43 Minutes: The third act is the strongest one for obvious reasons. But it’s the first two acts that could’ve been trimmed down. The love story took its sweet time to develop. 

Conclusion: Strong performances and gorgeous cinematography are the highlights. The climax , although foreseeable, was emotional. I would also like to mention that the make up done on the  “the English patient” was excellent. That is all.

fuck this movie man