The End of the Affair

The End of the Affair (1999)

  • 67% of critics liked it
    (66 reviews)

  • 71% of users liked it
    (9,445 ratings)

Based on the novel by Graham Greene, this romantic drama stars Ralph Fiennes as Maurice Bendrix, a novelist who, during World War II, had an affair with Sarah Miles (Julianne Moore), the wife of his best friend Henry (Stephen Rea). Sarah abruptly broke off the romance in 1944, but two years later,… More

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R,
Directed By
Written By
Neil Jordan
Genres
Drama, Romance
In Theaters
Dec 3, 1999 Wide
Columbia Pictures

Critic Reviews

  • J. Hoberman, Village Voice

    For all its obvious psychoanalytic implications, [Jordan's] wacky romantic triangle lost me long before it crawled to its spiritualist conclusion.

  • Paul Tatara, CNN.com

    An effective love story that's intensely old-fashioned.

  • Alan Dale, Blogcritics.org

    The whole thing is beyond purple and yet so careful and reverent you can't even enjoy it as camp.

  • Jeffrey Overstreet, Looking Closer

    What a sad and melancholy piece of work. ... Fiennes basically reprises his English Patient role as the heroic destroyer of covenants and promises.

  • Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

    Writer/director Neil Jordan takes the right approach to the material. Instead of trying to spruce it up, he simply moves in closer.

Read all 6 critic reviews

See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Chris W


    Based on a novel by Graham Greene, this is a romantic drama set during World War II that is in many ways a standard love triangle involving a guy, his best friend, and the best friend's wife. There's lies, deception, and a torrid affair. Some of this is compelling, but… More

  • Emil K


    This is propably the most sophisticated film from director Neil Jordan. It is not among the best work he has done, but it holds your attention with very well written screenplay. Acting is powerhouse all around.

  • Morgan S


    Or as I like to call this movie; GROPE. lol I absolutely adore RALPH FIENNES. But i just didnt really find myself enjoying this movie that much.. Julianne Moores character seems almost too self-pitying and whinny as some points. In this movie I actually thought that the actor that… More

  • Anthony L


    I wasn?t convinced I was going to like it as I wasn?t a great fan of the book but this is a brilliant adaptation from Neil Jordan, who really captures the essence of the characters!

  • jay n


    Good period detail but dull

Read all 14 featured audience ratings

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