Illustrious British Filmmaker Lord Richard Attenborough’s latest offering, 'Closing the Ring" is an epic love story, spanning 50 years. It is a story of friendship, love and the power of promises.
In 1941 Ethel promises Teddy, before he goes off to war, that she will love no other until the day she dies. This promise is to have far reaching consequences when a gold ring is discovered in Belfast in 1991.
Attenborough has assembled a cast of veterans and newcomers to breathe life into writer Peter Woodward’s script. The original idea for the film was inspired when Woodward read a newspaper article in which a gold ring dating back to WWII was found. He decided to explore what the ramifications of such a discovery could be. Unfortunately the resulting screenplay is an overwritten, predicable melodrama.
It pains me to criticise a filmmaker who has given so much to the cinema, however, 'Closing the Ring" is a very disappointing experience.
The cinematography together with the overall production values are better suited to an average BBC drama than to film. Further, the pace is slow and drawn out leaving many scenes lifeless.
The film is not aided by the overwrought and badly pitched performances of some of the newcomers. I am surprised more wasn’t done to guide them, particularly Stephan Amell who plays Teddy. He is just so wooden and fake it defies belief.
The saving grace is the wonderful performance from young Irish actor Martin McCann who plays Jimmy. He is bold, with a great comic touch. He injects some much needed energy into the film
Shirley MacLaine as the older Ethel is convincing, as is Christopher Plumber and the remarkable Pete Postlethwaite. Collectively their performances avoid much of the sentiment that the film is steeped in.
Maybe Closing the Ring will appeal to a more mature audience. For me though it was just far too earnest in its approach.
The best thing about the film is its message of hope, forgiveness and love and for that I give it 2.5 stars. Closing the Ring is in cinemas now.
