Waterland (1992)

Please don't spend money on this.

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.

Jeremy Irons plays Tom Crick, a history teacher that is having trouble getting through to his class. His wife Mary(Sinead Cusack), herself in a battle with depression, feels a disconnect with her husband. Mr. Crick grapples with memories of his childhood days that interferes with his present day activities. In desperation to connect with his students, Crick has himself believing he can grab their interest in history by telling them stories from his young adult life. Most of his stories are of a sexual nature and his tales have nothing to do with history. Crick continues with his erotic revelations and even treats his class to a surreal field trip through his most haunting of memories. When forced into retirement, Tom finds that one of his most stubborn students(Ethan Hawke)finally understands there was a certain call for his flirt on the edge of madness.Young Tom is played by Grant Warnock and young Mary is aptly played by a charming Lena Headey. Very strong sexual situations, nudity and an abortion scene calls for an R rating. My favorite sequence is a version of show me yours, I'll show you mine. I found this drama very sad, but yet very interesting. The switching between past and present is not too distracting and an important method of sustaining the story line. The supporting cast features: David Morrissey, Callum Dixon, John Heard and Pete Postlethwaite. Watch for a brief glimpse of a young Maggie Gyllenhaal. If you happen to be suffering any degree of depression, this may not be the film for you; but I really enjoyed it.

I agree with the other com-mentors. It's a masterpiece of sorts.I did not fight it, just yielded and enjoyed the haunting performances.Caught it for the first time yesterday and have not stopped thinking about it. Irons is brilliant and looks awful, but his appearance is the reflection of the mess inside him.The location of the story is wonderful. I liked the way the present slipped into the past and remained in the present. Wonderful technique to tell this wistful sad tale of the human comedy. Had a Ken Russell feel to the camera work, you have to give up trying to make sense of the scenes, just give in and let it take you over.A must see. SARGE

Jeremy Irons,in another in a long line of outstanding performances, plays a high school history teacher who becomes as disillusioned as his students with dry facts and figures and takes them on a field trip though his mind as he relates his own personal family history to them.This is a fascinating,thought provoking film.At one point,fellow teacher John Heard asks him what to tell parents who want to know why their kids should be learning history if it isn't going to help them get a good job when they graduate.The answer to this question is the main reason why parents should stick to parenting and teachers to teaching.Great music score and excellent cinematography,this film is a rewarding experience.

It was my favorite, but long since, I don't have any, I mainly divide movies into horrible, bad, mediocre, bad, ok, good, excelent. So, this would be excelent. Everything in this movie works extremely well, the acting of Jeremy Irons is, well, as always wonderfull. Reminds me, I don't know why, but, of Stealing Beauty, which Jeremy Irons is also in. To finish, very good, if you haven't seen it, go out and rent it now.