Never Ever (1996)

User Rating:

4.5/10   

Director:

Charles Finch

Writer (WGA):

Charles Finch (written by)

Release Date:

17 September 1997 (Spain)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Thomas Murray (Charles Finch) and Amanda (Jane March) have just moved to Paris. He works for a bank...

Plot Keywords:

Paris | Independent Film

Cast

Sandrine Bonnaire	...	Katherine Beaufort
Jane March	...	Amanda Trevane Murray
Charles Finch	...	Thomas Murray
James Fox	...	Arthur Trevane
Jean Rochefort	...	Gerard Panier
Julian Sands	...	Roderick
Patrick Le Barz	...	Doctor
Marc Estrada	...	André the Waiter
Gillian Clarck	...	Amanda's Nurse

Directed by
Charles Finch

Writing credits (WGA)
Charles Finch		(written by)

Produced by
Mark Amin	....	executive producer
Phillip B. Goldfine	....	co-producer
Karen Koch	....	producer

Original Music by
Peter John Vettese

Cinematography by
Monty Rowan

Film Editing by
Chris Joyce

Production Design by
Elli Griff

Set Decoration by
Deborah Wilson

Costume Design by
Tanya Gill

Makeup Department
Jocelyne Lemery	....	key makeup artist
Richard Luzy	....	key hair stylist

Production Management
Stephen Barker	....	post-production supervisor
Sylvestre Guarino	....	production manager: Paris
Bernard Mazauric	....	production manager: Nice
Cami Winikoff	....	executive in charge of production

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Christophe Cheysson	....	first assistant director
Xavier Gens	....	trainee assistant director
Bernard Mazauric	....	first assistant director: Nice
Yann Thomas	....	second assistant director: Nice
Brieuc Vanderswalm	....	second assistant director: Nice

Art Department
Manu Poupard	....	property master

Sound Department
John Downer	....	sound effects editor
John Martyn	....	boom operator
Sarah Morton	....	dialogue editor
Ian Tapp	....	sound re-recording mixer

Camera and Electrical Department
Bonnie S. Blake	....	first assistant camera (as Bonnie Blake)
Eric Bornes	....	second assistant camera: Paris
Jean Marc Bringuier	....	Steadicam operator
Stephane Canda	....	additional grip: Paris
Lionel Carriet	....	second assistant camera: Nice
Michel Dechaud	....	key grip: Paris
Gilles Descamp	....	still photographer
Jean-Marc Dupuy	....	additional grip: Paris
Michel Forpox	....	electrician: Paris
Francois Frey	....	video assistant
Stephane Garitat	....	generator operator
Philippe Gelvan	....	best boy electric
Jean-Bernard Josko	....	grip: Paris
Michael A. Mendez	....	key grip (as Michael Mendez)
François Morillon	....	electrician: Paris
Christian Pasquale	....	electrician
Didier Pousol	....	key grip: Nice
Jean-Baptiste Thibaud	....	first assistant Steadicam
Mathieu Ungaro	....	grip: Paris
Michel Venot	....	grip: Paris
Elan Yaari	....	gaffer

Casting Department
Kate Dowd	....	casting: France
Celestia Fox	....	casting: London

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Allison Gill	....	wardrobe assistant
Jennifer Harvey	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Nasereen Chafekar	....	post-production coordinator
Colin Coull	....	color timer
Richard Jordan	....	executive in charge of post-production
Julian Ryan	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Geoff Alexander	....	orchestrator
Chris Dibble	....	music mixer
Jonathan Rowlands	....	associate music supervisor
Peter John Vettese	....	music producer

Other crew
Jean-François Abbate	....	location assistant
Michel Babaud	....	location manager: Paris
Laure Blaess	....	production accountant
Daniella Cahill	....	assistant: Mr. Finch
Franck Dochez	....	production assistant
René Federici	....	location manager: Nice
Francois Frey	....	unit publicist
Xavier Gens	....	production assistant
Beatrice Giraud	....	production coordinator
Andrew Gladston	....	assistant: Mr. Goldfine
Jackie Graf	....	assistant: Mr. Amin
Valerie Guillerand	....	production secretary
Deborah Ann Henderson	....	production coordinator: Trimark
Joel C. High	....	assistant: Ms. Winikoff
Franck Josse	....	location assistant
Fara Kavandi	....	assistant: Mr. Block
Fabien Loire	....	location assistant
Sirish Malde	....	post-production accountant
Alescondre Miciava	....	location assistant
David Mitnik	....	location manager: Paris
Bruno Nizzola	....	location assistant
Jean Pierre Pavanello	....	production assistant
Michel Simongiovanni	....	production assistant
Samantha Timmerman	....	script supervisor
Meltem Vogler	....	production controller (as Meltem Demirer Vogler)
John Walbeoffe	....	production runner: UK

Production Companies

• Trimark Pictures
• Walkabout Mates Production

Distributors

• Indies Home Entertainment (19??) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Sociedad Kino Visión (Spain)
• Trimark Home Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Trimark Pictures

Other Companies

• Anvil Post Production  sound re-recording
• Car Grip  grip equipment
• Clairmont Camera  camera systems by
• General Screen Enterprises  titles and opticals
• Metro Color London  film-look processing
• The Shed  music recorded at

Also Known As:

The Circle of Passion

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality and a scene of attempted suicide.

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:M | Netherlands:AL | Singapore:R(A) | Argentina:13 | Spain:13 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France

Company:

Trimark Pictures

francophilia! it's almost better than a travel film to paris.

watch this for sandrine bonnaire, who is marvelous as usual.

the problem is that it is written by, directed by, and starring charles finch. mr. finch is a capable actor, an onanistic director, and a putrid screenwriter. he at least has surrounded himself with great people and he lets them do their thing. the visuals vie with ms. bonnaire for best-reason-to-watch the movie. at least the movie is set in paris and nice, and there is a beautiful new alfa spider to watch and hear.

jane march is striking on-screen, but disappointing. her character is not a happy one, but even less happy is her physical deterioration. if this is a deliberate attempt to contrast with ms. bonnaire, it works. but those who adored ms. march in l'amant (THE LOVER) will be puzzled by her appearance here. to make matters worse, her lines are muffled and one of her important scenes reduces the film to vulgarity. the director's laudable attention to detail and lavish use of time still do not excuse the debasement of what is otherwise a visually beautiful film that contemplates beautiful moments.

in fact, there is only one other ugliness in the film. it is mr. finch's overuse of his own face, which, while agreeable enough, does not withstand the scrutiny. few people can write, direct, and act in the same production. this is one of the better efforts at the triple play, but it is also further evidence that it should not even be attempted.

james fox gives a wooden treatment of a wooden character, and jean rochefort likewise achieves likeability in a can't-miss role. again, this is the result of a director who can bring nothing new to the script. it should also be mentioned that the script is as empty and predictable as mr. finch's interpretation of his character. it is a valid script and a valid interpretation; but both are devoid of complexity and surprise.

beyond ms. bonnaire and the luscious latinate visual indulgences of this film, there is one more happy surprise. large parts of the dialogue take place in french with no subtitles! it is effective, and the francophiles will love it. for this, for his cast, and even for his audacity, i do applaud mr. finch.