Rating: 
Summary: Who is most damaged?
Review: "Damaged people are the worst because they know they can survive." Dangerous is a good film that examines the dark side of obsessions. Jeremy Irons portrays a british government official who becomes obsessed with his son's fiance played by Juliette Binoche. The result is a film that only partially succeeds. I had several problems with the film one being Irons motivation to become involved with this woman in the first place. A look and phone-call and then BAM! OK... but why was he so willing to jump into the dark waters? Power? Lust? Carelessness? Boredom? And herein lies the major weakness of the film. The film deals almost exclusively with the obsesson of Iron's character with Binoche but does not deal with the obsession of the mother (Iron's wife) with her son. Her relationship is clearly destructive and unhealthy but all the damage she inflicts under the guise of her love for her son never finds a voice. No fault falls on the mother when her obsession might well explain both the son's and father's weaknesses. At one part the son is talking about his family life saying that although it was good it lacked passion. His mother then replies that it is probably her fault and he replies that he rather thinks it's his father's. It's a careless and misdirecting remark and a sadly missed plot point. As you may expect there are many sex scenes. I don't know what I was expecting but many made me laugh. They seemed so ridiculous and absurdly physical. I rather think Binoche must have suffered some bruising as a result of Iron's flailing. While this film is meant to portray the damage that a traditional obsession (i.e. an affair) can have, it also begs to be seen from the the alternate perspective of a mother's obsession for her son. I am disappointed that Malle didn't have the courage to pursue this theme more vigorously.
Rating: 
Summary: Extremely realistic
Review: Extremely well acted, great movie. Damage is both compelling and disturbing in its realism and psychological content. The intimate scenes between Irons' and Binoche's characters are some of the few that I can actually watch without laughing--the scenes are very mature and believable, as opposed to movies that seem to pander to a goofy teenage audience. The obsessive attraction is also very believable. The first time I watched this film a couple years ago, I too felt somewhat as some critics do--that there was no reason for the obsession between the two. However, having actually been there (unfortunately), I now appreciate even more the seemingly "inexplicable" nature of obsessions. There is often no "one" reason. Just many subtle nuances and coincidental timing that happen in real life--and that Malle has portrayed in this film as beautifully and disturbingly realistic as possible.
Rating:
Summary: Damage
Review: Love at a first sight exists, at least in this movie.
A honourable member of English Parliament falls in love with a woman who introduces herself to him unexpectadly during one party. Soon, this woman appears in his life again, this time as his son's fiance but that doesn't mean that he can not start a
very romantic affair with her. So two people who are prisoners of the happiness of the moment change so many lives forever. I was sick to death to watch a movie where a father of an old child has sex with his fiance but I had to keep watching it only to find out how it will end. Luckily it ended perfectly making it crystal clear that prisoners of passions and killers of harmony always get what they always asked for which is = HELL on EARTH. I would recommend this movie to people who have to learn something new each day even though it may be very disturbing to watch something like this.
Rating:
Summary: Pure Animal Lust & Sexual Attraction Abound!
Review: Louis Malle's film with a young fiancee, Juliette Binoche & the father of her soon to be husband-an elder, mid-life crisis bound, government official in Jeremy Irons. The second they gaze upon each other, you just KNOW that there is going to be some trouble ahead. Miranda Richardson as Iron's wife, plays a pivotal role in the movie also. Very erotic & base sex scenes with a twist of an ending that you will never forget. Hence, the title - DAMAGE! Highly recommended and truly great ensemble performances by all...
Rating: 
Summary: "Damaged people are dangerous--they know they can survive"
Review: I finally watched "Damage"--a Louis Malle film. It's the story of doctor turned politician, Stephen Fleming (played by Jeremy Irons) who becomes entangled--physically and emotionally--with his son's girlfriend, Anna (Juliette Binoche). Anna introduces herself (without her boyfriend) to Stephen at a party. Long meaningful stares are exchanged, and things heat up from here. Numerous sexual encounters take place and this involves a kitchen appliance, and various contortionist poses. At one point, I even expected Stephen's out-of-control passion to knock Anna unconscious. I don't dismiss a film normally just because it's about some rather unpleasant, selfish people. In fact, unpleasant, selfish people can be a lot of fun to watch on the screen. However, in "Damage" there is really no introspection or character development. True, we gain a little insight into Anna's rather sordid past when we hear the story about Anna's brother and see Anna's indiscreet, tactless mother. Also the idea is clear that Stephen has spent a lifetime trying to control things, and all he's managed to do as a consequence is allow these impossible passions to build up until Anna pops up and unleashes him. These elements are supposed to explain their behaviour, but to me the explanation was inadequate. I saw Jeremy Irons playing his role with relish, but Binoche was miscast as Anna. Binoche was too flat and emotionally dead--I seriously doubted she could inspire a haiku--let alone Stephen's panting passion. Apart from a couple of brief "no, we really mustn't" scenes and Irons saying "we've got to find a structure for this," there was no development or explanation of the taboo-ness of the situation. Given the scenario, the justification and moral wiggling would have been far more interesting than the sex scenes that were supposed to spice everything up. I found the sex scenes ludicrous and laughed out loud, but I saw the film through until the end as I knew the denouement would be explosive and messy. Miranda Richardson's performance as the wife, Ingrid, was excellent. She's such a versatile actress, and she seemed to be the only female character who was not embarrassed to be in this film--displacedhuman
Rating: 
Summary: Uncontrollably Obsessed MP escapes unpunished
Review: The story is seen entirely from Fleming's viewpoint. (If there is any guilt on the fiancee's part, she doesn't show it.) Fleming is a leading Conservative MP, likely to take over a Cabinet post as minister of health in the next re-shuffle. I feel the author, Josephine Hart, decided to give him that job, in order to maximise the fall that confronted him when his errors are discovered. It was as senior an establishment role that the protagonist could have without fearing he would be recognised at every street corner. Politics don't play a large part in the story, but the film will have played some small part in the image of sleaze that the Conservative party acquired in the early 1990s. Binoche is utterly beautiful, and totally passive during the sex scenes, but her accent (cleverly excused by scriptwriter Hare as the result of her travelling the world) is all over the place. Irons is convincing in the role, and Miranda Richardson puts in another perfect performance. Their son, the victim, is almost too good-natured to be true, but this helps to highlight the contrast with his father's uncontrollable lust. As with 'Day of the Jackal', the motion is very occasionally jerky -- one or two frames seem to be missing from the transfer from film reel to DVD, but not enough to harm one's enjoyment. This is not far from being a truly great film, but I think it would have needed one extra dimension -- don't ask me what -- to achieve that.
Rating:
Summary: Better than "Caddyshack"!
Review: I don't think I have ever seen such a funny movie in my life. You will love this! The guy who gave Glenn Close too much insulin in another movie is back to cause some more damage, this time to his son and future daughter-in-law. Watching them try to get away with their sordid stuff is hysterical. It's like the Three Stooges for grownups. Buy this movie. It's funny. Then try it at home.
Rating:
Summary: Everyone has that Someone That Just Turns them On!
Review: There isn't any depth to this movie. It is simply a movie about obcession. Some people have physical attractions others are just attracted to quirky or evil individuals. This is basically a film about a man that is obcessed with a woman that is mysterious and very sick. He is obcessed with the mystery and the nonchalant character of this woman. Also she has a very sick deep dark distrurbing past that turns him on. Everyone has Morbid attraction to someone. I have and I am pretty sure you have as well. If you have been so obcessed with someone that everytime you look at them you want to ravish them? This is the film for you. If you have been so obcessed with someone so much that you sniff there cloths this one is for you. If you have a fetish for sick or weird individuals then this is the film for you. Jeremey Irons has a knack for potraying unlikeable, and being perverse characters check for "Lolita"!
Rating:
Summary: Not so subtle damage
Review: Damage presents the theme of animal instinct vs. reason. A British politico gets [excited] for the son's bride-to-be and vice-versa. Repetitive, compulsive sex happens again and again and the wife and son eventually find out. To try to explain why he or she did what they did is to miss the whole point of the book/movie. There is no reason, the only thing left is animal impulses, uncontrolable, and their consequences. The performances are powerful and the sense of inevitability, the determinism of lust is very personal. They could have used a little bit more of sublety, less flesh and more signs, speech, as in Eric Rohmer's movies. Get some popcorn and a glass of wine and rent it!
Rating:
Summary: An unfogettable tale of love and lusty obcession
Review: Impossible to put down at times and truly unforgettable! A definate must read!
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