The Weight of Water [HD]

half a good film
**1/2 In its basic structure and format, "The Weight of Water" is very similar to the far more impressive film "Possession" from 2002. In both movies, we get two different stories running simultaneously: one, a mystery set in the past, and, the other, a personal drama located in the present, involving a group of characters reflecting on and trying to make sense of the events that took place a century or so earlier.

The story-within-a-story in "The Weight of Water" is a true-life account of a brutal double murder that took place on a remote island off the coast of New Hampshire in the 1870's. Two out of the three women who were on the island that fateful night fell victim to the murderer, with the third escaping and fingering a man - a former boarder - as the culprit. The man was convicted and hanged for the offense, yet, more than a century later, a shadow of doubt hangs over the verdict. One of the modern-day doubters is Jean Janes, a photographer who ventures to the island...

A Phychological Drama that Is Inspired by Actual Murder
(Let me say first that my rating is actually about 2.5, but I could not do that, so made it 3.) I had a chance to watch this film based on a novel by Anita Shreve (which I haven't read), and was interested in the names of the cast including Sean Penn, and the director Kathryn Bigelow. I am sorry to say that the entire film, though it has some intriguing premise and fantastic photography, somehow fell short of my expectation. But I don't know how you will receive this film, so I concentrate on writing factual aspects of this one. Let me hear your own opinions from you on Amazon later.

Some sources call "The Weight of Water" a thriller, but that is misleading. It is more like a drama with some psycological depth. "The Weight of Water" has two plots side by side, one set in today, the other in the past. The film follows both the mystery of the horrible ax murder in the past, and hidden envy or hatred between the apparently friendly travellers today, with each story...

THE BOOK IS BETTER...
This is an adaptation of the exceptionally well-written book of the same name by Anita Shreve. The film, as does the book, tells two stories, each with its own voice, demanding to be heard. The stories run parallel to each other, and the film cuts back and forth between each one, a difficult thing to do successfully. The director, Karen Bigelow, handles the flashbacks with competent ease. One story takes place in the present, and the other takes place over a century ago. The film is not a faithful adaptation of the book, and the revisions somewhat undercut the tension in the present day story, weakening that portion of the film. Moreover, while the casting for the period segment is perfect, the casting of the present day story leaves much to be desired.

The film tells the present day story of Jean (Catherine McCormack), a news photographer who sets out on a large sailboat to a remote island off the coast of New Hampshire, accompanied by her Pulitzer prize winning...

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