FemaleFirst.co.uk: DVD: The War Zone [DVD] [1999]

The War Zone [DVD] [1999]
enlarge	Director: Tim Roth Actors: Ray Winstone, Tilda Swinton, Kate Ashfield, Lara Belmont, Freddie Cunliffe Studio: 4dvd Category: DVD List Price: ~~£15.99~~ Buy New: £3.38 as of 22/3/2010 05:23 GMT details You Save: £12.61 (79%) New (10) Used (2) from £3.38 Seller: gzoop Rating: 10 reviews Sales Rank: 13571 Format: PAL, Widescreen Language: English (Audio Description) Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over Region: 2 Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Number Of Discs: 1 Running Time: 95 Minutes Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2 Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6 EAN: 6867449002293 ASIN: B0015FWMTQ Theatrical Release Date: 1999 Release Date: May 12, 2008 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days


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Editorial Reviews: Amazon.co.uk Review As unflinching and bleak as it is beautiful, Tim Roth's directorial debut IThe War Zone/I is remarkably accomplished filmmaking. Adapted by Alexander Stuart from his own novel, the film centres on a family that has just moved from London to the wind-swept seaside during winter. The relative isolation soon reveals an ongoing incestuous relationship between the working-class father (Ray Winstone) and his 17-year-old-daughter, Jessie. The middle-class mother (Tilda Swinton) has just given birth to their third child and desperately avoids knowing the truth, leaving Tom, the younger brother, with the horrific responsibility of exposing the family secret. Fearless in its hard-fought depiction of incest, IThe War Zone/I pulls no punches; this vivid portrayal of abuse within a family and the scathed consciousness that results is not for the faint of heart. True to his theatre background, Roth doesn't explain how or where such brutal choices were first taken, choosing rather to let the actors bear the ambiguities and anguish of a terrible knowledge in the their body language.--IFionn Meade, Amazon.com/I

Customer Reviews: Showing reviews 1-5 of 10 1 2 Next » Bleak and Beautiful July 30, 2005 5 out of 5 found this review helpful This is one of the best films I have ever seen. The performances from all the cast are wonderful but I cannot praise Belmont and Cunliffe for their portrayals of the brother and sister. As Tom (Cunliffe) gives us our view of the drama, his performance is crucial but he truly excels. Jess (Belmont) has to go through some of the most difficult scenes in the film and express the most complicated emotions. These two young actors carry this film and make it the masterpiece it is.brTim Roth's direction is also one of the best I have ever seen, especially considering this is his debut.brAs others have said this film is not easy to watch, but it is very beautiful and contains some of the best performances I have ever seen. BRUTAL BEAUTY. May 10, 2003 RYAN OLIVER AKA RID_ICULE. (YORK / BRISTOL, ,ENGLAND ,UK) 21 out of 27 found this review helpful This film is not going to appeal to everyone's taste so 'popcorn-pinheads'don't even bother! However, if you long to watch REAL drama with gut-renching emotion and the perfomances to match, then 'THE WAR ZONE' is challenging enough for even the sternest of stomachs.br Incest is the theme, however, the subject isn't just routinely 'tippy-toed' around. The director (Tim Roth) plummets us head first into this gulf of depravity with no safty net. As the story unfolds and suspicions are vindicated the tention becomes almost unbearable, climaxing with sheer horror and pure despair when the ghastly act is graphically demonstrated.br Every componant of the film making process shares the responsibility for sculpting this dark yet highly original, beautifully crafted masterpiece. Tim Roth's direction is economical, subtle yet strong and purposeful. The bleak, harsh landscape, accompanied by its fixed charcol skies and sodden terrain, increase the oppressive feeling of dread. A few rays of sunlight manage to intrude on the woe during the films main theme music; but only momentarily. A few light hearted keys are all to brief, when after a slight pause, the dirge looms back in; reminding us of what we are soon to be witness to.br The quality of the acting in this remarkable film can only be described as profound and is without question the film's crowning glory. Ray Winstone lends his reliable outstanding best as the foul father. However, it is the children who supply the gutsiest performances. Freddie Cunliffe is perfectly cast as the gorky teenage lad (Tom) with "..a face like a well slapped arse ", to quote the script. Thank God he's no D'Capprio. The camera soaks up his raw, natural attributes (or lack of them).br Above all these it is Lara Belmont's rendition of Jessie which is most poinant. I cannot praise Lara enough for her unflinching dedication to this most uncomfortable of roles. Whatever the scene demands, no matter how harrowing or extreme the emotion, she excels (and then some!). How this young woman can digest such unmanageable, controversial material and deliver a performance of such poise, beauty and power is beyond me. I'm at a loss to recall a role, male or female, which is as potentially disturbing as the plight of Jessie. Whoever won the Oscar for best actress in 1999 should return it to its rightful owner.br I have great admiration and a facination for films which push the boundaries of what is deemed exceptable. You could refer to such as 'extreme cinema'. I have a great curiosity and a resilient tolerance when confronted with images of this nature; and I am not in the slight bit squeamish. So when considering how 'THE WAR ZONE'S' most graphic scene rates on the shock metre, I believe it fairs favourably in the conpany of those from 'THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE' and 'HENRY:PORTRAIT OF A CEREAL KILLER'. However, unlike the latter two films it is not skin, flesh or bone but the trust, emotions and the rights of the victims which are being graphically torn apart.br 'THE WAR ZONE' cannot boast 'A' list Hollywood actors or million dollar, CGI special effects. No seasonded director or 'feel good' ending.'THE WAR ZONE' is a 'small-scale' domestic drama, which emotively, feels epic in proportion. True enough, this isn't a film that you would dare to endure time and time again but one that will haunt your thoughts from the moment the credits start rolling. Raw drama that will stay with you for a long time May 14, 2009 Flmfn (Netherlands) This intense family drama got dark and horrifying to the point where it was almost too hard for me to keep watching. Yet at the same time it was so compelling I watched it all the way through and kept thinking about it for days afterwards. This film definitely will not leave you feeling even slightly uplifted, but it will stay with you for a long time because of it's intense emotion and strange dark beauty. br / br /Great acting as expected from the two leads, but the two young actors playing the brother and sister really blew me away. I'm sure it took a lot of courage (not to mention great direction from Tim Roth) for them to act this drama out in such a raw and intense way. br / br /For lovers of dark, realistic arthouse-style drama. Definitely not for the fainthearted (as it contains graphic scenes of sexual abuse and violence). Very upsetting but impressive movie! June 18, 2009 Mr. A. J. Ralph (Torquay,England) The War zone funnily enough was filmed not far away from where I live in Devon.The story involves a family,who locate from London to Devon.The film itself is see through the sons eyes,Tom.He spies on his sister and suspects his dad of sexual abuse towards his sibling. br / br /The movie is very compelling and has alot of replay value.There will be people who will see it and blacklist it but the film is very true to life,forcing you to see it as in the here and now.Without spoiling anything the movie is shocking on a couple of scenes.Watch but only if you are strong minded. my fav and worst film December 3, 2005 3 out of 7 found this review helpful There are no words to discribe how this film made me feel.. It has to be the best film I have ever seen.. but in many ways I wish I hadnt..pI recommend causion watching this film.. Because it made me feel slightly suicidle..ponly watch it if your willing to put up with constant thoughts about it for days or weeks after seeing it.. Showing reviews 1-5 of 10 1 2 Next »

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