cinemaniac2002 It is no easy task to do a film about a writer, given that what occurs inside a writer's head is so intimate – and often misunderstood. Everything is open to interpretation – and each reader can tend to translate an author's words differently. Gwyneth Paltrow's portrayal of the author is compelling; she deftly neither over or under plays Plath. Daniel Craig as Ted Hughes displays a chemistry with Paltrow that is very believable. As a result of their renderings, the story has much more power and significance than it would if the actors were more obvious and dramatic in their portrayals.For all of its gloom and doom, "Sylvia" provides an introspective look into the life and world of a woman struggling to find her own identity – both as an individual and as a woman. Long before the cultural feminist awakening, Plath wrote astounding poetry that detailed the victimization, rebellion and resultant rage of so many women. As such, she essentially paved the way and gave "permission" for women to write in the most honest, raw and soulful way possible. It is important to know this before seeing the movie; otherwise, much of its true meaning may go lost.The story begins with Plath as an American studying at Cambridge. Her writing appears to be less than well received. However, this is to be expected during this particularly male dominated time. She meets the dashing poet, Ted Hughes, at a party she is attending after becoming aware that those responsible for her latest less than favorable review will be there. Ted insists that it was the editor who ripped her piece apart into shreds – but it is clear that Sylvia knows differently. Still, Plath recognized the brilliance of his work and winds up kissing him by the end of the evening, whereupon she bit his cheek, which drew blood. Thus began their passionate love affair. They move in 1956 to her Massachusetts hometown, where they marry and she sets about teaching at Smith. Four years later, upon struggling to write there, Ted insists that they go back to England. In a lonely country cottage, Sylvia develops the same writer's block problem, favoring baking over writing. Ted notices this, encouraging her to "find a subject" and write. Could be her life was too idyllic to find a subject; Ted would provide plenty of material in the future.They have two children. Plath struggles to separate herself from wife and motherhood in order to express something relevant. Sylvia confirms her suspicions that Ted is having an affair, whereupon they separate – but not before she burns some of his belongings. One could say that this behavior is outrageous – however, so is having an affair while married. However, as a student of psychoanalysis, Plath comes to the realization that she, in fact, had a hand in Ted's adultery; insisting that she "conjured" it – essentially willing it into existence. It is an interesting point that is rarely explored in this type of film. That Plath would take the entire blame for her husband's adultery suggests that at the base of suffering from depression and mental illness is a low level of self esteem and self worth, coupled with the inability to differentiate fantasy from reality. This could be why the heartbroken, 29 year old Sylvia embarked upon her extraordinary journey of self-expression, also perhaps prompting her to arrange for a brief coupling with her estranged husband. However, this last ditch attempt at reconciliation is dashed when Ted informs her that the woman he has been having an affair with is pregnant. While he could have decided to reunite with his wife, it is clear that he had no intention to do so. For the already emotionally fragile Plath, this had to be a major devastation.During her marital estrangement, Plath wrote some of her most compelling masterpieces. Unable to reconcile her life, Ted's betrayal and the end of her marriage, Plath gassed herself at 31 years old in the kitchen after setting out food and taping her children's door to protect them. After her death, her final collection, Ariel was published, as were the books Crossing the Water and Winter Trees in 1971. As is the case with many artists, her work became ever more notable, garnering the Pulitzer Prize in 1981 for a book of her Collected Poems.

Bullwinkle96 Mom came home with this DVD and I nearly crapped my pants. It was the 2nd DVD we ever owned. The firstb one was Spy Kids 3D. That movie is rubbish as well. Since then I have bought Pulp Fiction though. That movie is awesome. That is why I was so excited. It was horrible. 007 played by Ted Hughes played a husband to some girl who tried to kill herself 10 times. At the ending she finally suceeded. She failed 90% of the times. An easy way that she could have killed herself was if she watched this boring, dull film. I think Dumbledoor and the mother from meet the parents were in this film. The mother that wasn't Barbra Streisand. Anyway, there is a naked scene which made it really awkward when I watched it with my family. Even the naked scene was rubish. Don't watch this film. I would prefer watch the informercial chanel. But that chanel is funny. It has that vacuum cleaner that moves by itself.DON'T WATCH THIS RUBBISH!

Jem Odewahn Not really disappointing viewing, given I was well aware of the critical and commercial caning this copped on release, but as a fan of Plath I was left wistfully wanting more. A more appropriate title for Christine Jeffs' film would have been "Ted and Sylvia" as we only pick up poet Sylvia Plath's (Gwyneth Paltrow) life from the time when she met fellow poet Ted Hughes (Daniel Craig). The film charts the passionate yet rocky relationship of the literary couple, with Hughes' extra-marital affairs and Plath's mental instabilities causing the marriage to breakdown. We all know how it ends of course, with Plath's suicide."Sylvia" has much of the same problems that the recent John Maybury film looking at Dylan Thomas' life and loves, "The Edge Of Love", had. At times its beautiful and haunting, but really just inconsequential overall. We spend so much time with Plath and Hughes but we never really get close to either of them. Plath was not just a tragic talent, her poetry and novel are filled with disturbing, blunt images but also a great raw passion for experience and life. The film becomes a dreary look at adultery rather than showing us anything new about Plath, or her relationship with Hughes. Paltrow and Craig are rather good in their roles, but are let down by the writing (how ironic!)The film goes around in circles but we never really get anywhere.

Rick Blaine This could have been a made for television movie, but it's a BBC movie, so you know it's going to be better anyway. Gwyneth shines, as does her mum, and everybody is very very good. There's just one issue.Daniel Craig. The next James Bond. You can't understand a word he says. He mumbles. Incoherently. He hasn't any diction at all. You'd almost want to ring him and suggest he take the Demosthenes cure.His diction is so bad that only a single line in the movie comes across as distinct - and even that takes an effort on the part of the viewer. Something remotely reminiscent of the following.'I've been told you're taking pills.'And before and after that you'd swear there was mud in the sound system when he speaks.There's one scene in the movie where Paltrow and then Craig recite poems of their own at breakneck speed. Paltrow is intelligible even if she's hurtling through it so fast you can't really comprehend, but Craig is just a succession of pseudo-vocal grunts and other assorted sounds.Think back to that very first Bond scene where 007 was first introduced. The casino. In London. Where Bond is fleecing Sylvia Trench at the chemin de fer table. And shiver at the prospect that it's not Connery but Craig who delivers the famous line.'I admire your courage, Miss...?''Trench. Sylvia Trench. I admire your luck, Mr...?''Mumble. Mumble mumble.''WHO??!??'It's a sad story, and Paltrow doesn't portray her character as morbid and unsympathetic as some wannabe critics would have it, and the dynamic of the relationship between Plath and Hughes comes through with brilliant colouring, but it's a biopic. Some will love it, others hate it - and most will speculate how much more they could have enjoyed it had they understood anything Craig said.All of which is not to say Plath's poetry or poetry in general merits special recognition. The poetry of both Hughes and Plath comes across today as specious and pretentious. But all that can be overlooked with a thespian performance of the class of Gwyneth.