"The End of the Affair" is saved by the wonderful performances of its talented cast and by Graham Greene's brilliant writing. It is a "chick flick" that succeeds. The always excellent Julianne Moore makes credible an incredible character. Moore's mixture of sweet vagueness and inner strength work perfectly here in her portrayal of a woman who leaves her lover. She does so because, in a prayer offered when she thought her lover was dead or dying, she promised to leave her lover if God would spare his life. I know it sounds a little silly but Moore's acting and Greene's writing combine to make it work. Ralph Finnes as the writer who loves Moore but is jealous of her husband and Stephen Rea as the husband could hardly be better. About three-fourths of the way through "The End of the Affair" I was thinking that it was obvious and largely a waste of time. But by the end, Graham Greene's patented twists and turns and his unique view of Catholicism had saved this movie, which was based on his book. I should add that the entire production is elegantly mounted and beautifully photographed. Recommended. 7 out of 10.
Review of The End of the Affair
