Separate Lies

R

Released Sep 16, 2005

1 hr. 27 min.

Drama

List

72%

89 Reviews

Tomatometer

47%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

James Manning (Tom Wilkinson), a successful business lawyer, and his younger wife, Anne (Emily Watson), split time between a London apartment and a lush country estate. The couple's seemingly perfect marriage gets complicated when their handsome and wealthy neighbor, Bill (Rupert Everett), returns to town and Anne begins sleeping with him. After Bill and Anne are linked to a hit-and-run death, James, aware of the affair, must choose whether to protect his wife or come forward to the police.

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Critics Consensus

Though the characters in this tasteful adult drama keep a stiff upper lip, the moral dilemmas are nuanced and the emotional pain feels real.

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Marco M

Solid film with great performances.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/23/23

Full Review

isla s

This is a pretty average thriller about upper class people (the fact its co-written and directed by Julian Fellowes of 'Downtown Abbey' fame was a bit of a give away). I wasn't too bothered about the characters and didn't find the story too engaging, though I did think Emily Watson gave a good performance. At first I thought I'd guessed the outcome and felt quite clever but I'm not sure it's as simple as I'd assumed. I didn't feel entirely bothered to follow all the sub plots. It comes across a bit like an extended drama show, only without much to compel me to want to find out what happens in the end really... there is somewhat of a twist by the end but its all pretty average, so I wouldn't go out of tyour way to watch it as such, no.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

British lifestyles and sceneries are beautiful. It's a human drama rather than a mystery and suspense. Life is not all fun. Life is not always what people like. Even so, they cannot stop telling lies to protect something. That may be the way the world moves on. Performances of the British actors are great.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/03/23

Full Review

Audience Member

3.5/4.0 This little-seen British gem from writer-director Julian Fellowes (Oscar-winning writer of "Gosford Park" in his directorial debut) is definitely one worth seeing. The always-reliable Tom Wilkinson delivers a perfectly subtle performance as wealthy London solicitor James Manning whose marriage to younger housewife Anne (Emily Watson) is jeopardized when they encounter near their countryside hideaway a neighbor (Rupert Everett) from a very wealthy local family who just returned from the US. In the meantime, a hit-and-run in the countryside claims the life of the husband of the Manning's housekeeper. What is great about this movie is that it plays out simply and quietly. It could have easily been made into a thriller. And although there are some twists in the plot, they are not unraveled in a way that aims to leave viewers in awe. This, in a way, is the tale of two love stories told as the investigation of a possible murder takes place. There is no good or bad guy. All characters are flawed in a way. It has so much to offer in an 80 minute running time yet doesn't feel rushed at all. Based on the 1951 novel "A Way Through the Wood" by Nigel Balchin.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

Full Review

troy k

3.5/5 Good stuff, although I was expecting a better ending.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A fine drama with a superb cast. Wilkinson is always superb.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/23/23

Full Review

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Julian Fellowes

Director

Tom Wilkinson

James Manning

Emily Watson

Anne Manning

Rupert Everett

William Bule

Linda Bassett

Maggie

David Harewood

Inspector Marshall

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J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

Wilkinson, returning to meatier fare after Batman Begins and The Exorcism of Emily Rose, gives one of the most complex performances of his career, and the leads are ably assisted by Linda Bassett...

Jun 28, 2022

Full Review

Empire Magazine

Rated: 3/5

Apr 1, 2006

Full Review

Independent (UK)

Rated: 2/5

Dec 6, 2005

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Wilkinson and Watson give sharply observed performances, that don't allow the film to become a sudser.

Rated: B

Jun 9, 2010

Full Review

Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

"Separate Lies" is a hearty mystery/drama that blooms as a succinct social critique of British aristocracy.

Rated: B+

Apr 19, 2009

Full Review

Urban Cinefile Critics

Urban Cinefile

A fascinating character study of lies, truth and the consequences

May 13, 2006

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

James Manning (Tom Wilkinson), a successful business lawyer, and his younger wife, Anne (Emily Watson), split time between a London apartment and a lush country estate. The couple's seemingly perfect marriage gets complicated when their handsome and wealthy neighbor, Bill (Rupert Everett), returns to town and Anne begins sleeping with him. After Bill and Anne are linked to a hit-and-run death, James, aware of the affair, must choose whether to protect his wife or come forward to the police.

Director: Julian Fellowes
Screenwriter: Nigel Balchin, Julian Fellowes
Distributor: Fox
Production Co: Celador Productions
Rating: R (Some Sexual References|Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 16, 2005, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $923.3K

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