Far and Away (1998, DVD)

Okay, so that line isn't really a description of the movie, but it's one of my favorite lines from this wonderful film. A historical romance starring husband/wife acting team Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, Far and Away captured my heart from the moment these two star-crossed lovers met.

Far and Away takes place in both America and Ireland in a time period where thousands of European immigrants traveled to the New World to claim the free Western land for themselves. This basic plot is complicated by the meeting of two very different Irish worlds.

Tom Cruise is Joseph Donnelly, a poor Catholic landworker. He and his family -- including two older brothers and a father -- work the land that they do not own. Land is their greatest possession.

Nicole Kidman is Shannon Christie, daughter of the wealthy Daniel Christie. She is a rich Prodestant and part of the landowner circle that the lower class so despises.

These two meet when Joseph travels to the Christie mansion to avenge his family. Through a series of amusing, unique circumstances, Shannon and Joseph travel to America together in search of free land and freedom.

The chemistry between this husband/wife duo is obvious. Not only are they thoroughly romantic and passionate together, their temperamental fights are a source of amusement and interest. In more than one scene, their off-screen romance is evident through their characters.

The dialouge is witty, charming and romantic. Cruise and Kidman deliver it beautifully and with lovely Irish accents that are quite realistic. Ron Howard does a wonderful job directing this film and his brother, Clint, does a great job in his cameo role in the chicken factory.

The supporting actors are terrific and hold their own very well next to the talented Cruise and Kidman. They are all realistic and play off of each other wonderfully. The interaction of the characters holds together this love story and keep it from being totally sappy and annoying.

Another postive point is the relative cleanliness of the film. Howard did a wonderful job of taking otherwise risky scenes and filming them tastefully.

If you like romance and history, this is a great movie to watch. While not giving detailed historical tales, Far and Away captures the essence of the early American culture. Cruise and Kidman capture the romance and spirit of the same.