Irishchatter I don't see why this movie was nominated for an Oscar because I felt Binoche or Richardson ever suited the roles they play. Bionche looked more of the wife part than the lover part and Richardson didn't really act well as the wife at all. She might as well have been a supporting character or not bother being involved in this film at all. She just doesn't suit the lead part in my opinion. Jermery Irons was the only one to watch in this movie but, I think its better if other actors were good as well. Its a pity that it didn't make me feel entertained or curious. I've watched better romantic movies than this and I'm afraid it wasn't the right film for me to watch......

Geetha Stachowiak Some movies are like a train wreck. Others are like waves on a beach: pretty, predictable, and about just as boring. And then there are some those that leave you wondering what you would've done in that situation. Damage is one such. A powerful British politician has an affair with his son's fiancée, culminating in the son's accidental death (after catching the two in the act, no less). The cold, selfish manner in which the minister and the son's fiancée indulge each others' sexual desires with no thought whatsoever to the lives of the family they destroy is at once compelling and disgusting. It doesn't hurt that casting director Patsy Pollock picked just about the best possible actors for this project. Louis Malle directs, and everything else—the music, the cinematography, the sets—helped create a brilliant piece of art. Now this is what a romance should be like—powerful enough to destroy empty if socially successful lives… not the kind of insipid mush Hollywood loves to churn out season after season.

PeterMitchell-506-564364 The title here is like a punchline to a joke. In a near two hour film, we have an exceptionally slow plodding story, as if somehow the horrible tragedy near it's end, pays off, which it does on a first view. We feel the whole of this told film in a necessity up to that point. And lets be honest, watching the nubile Irons and Binoche, get it on, we almost wish a re run of the seamy scenes in Basic Instinct, replaced it. There is no eroticism, or chemistry, whatsoever. However I can't say I hated the film. It least does have some humping, whatever, one scene in particular has Binoche covering Iron's eye, while like skyward, dreamily. Irons works as a minister in Parliament, whatever, has a loving and supportive wife, the great Miranda Richardson, the acting stealer here. He lives in riches, has a beautiful teen daughter, a little rebellious sort, and a successful son (Rupert Graves) great too, who works for a paper and who's fiancée', is fatally Binoche. So we, know some sort of Damage is gonna eventuate. For men, cheating is almost second nature. Personally I think Irons character is such an idiot, in part he gets what he deserves at the end of this movie, though you do feel a tad sorry for him. I think Richardson is far sexier than Binoche, but we all know opinions tend to very. This drama, actually a class about it, as in it's slow pacing, where we other family, in one scene Binoche's ex, played by Peter Stormare, in an unusually calm role. What damage does at the end though, leaves you with an afterthought, about the consequences of cheating, where losing the ones we love, comes at a much heavier price. The title artistry is great, with each letter fading onto the screen, of course, in slow succession.

BigApplePi From the very beginning they are drawn to each other. "Something" at first sight. If this was not to happen, one of them would look away. An unknown need is present. The Juliet Binoche character has been through an experience of damage. If she is at all appealing, and she is, she could use saving. The Jeremy Irons character must sense this. It's up to us to determine what there is about Jeremy needing saving. There is a strong desire to save the opposite sex if one needs saving themselves. This is a requirement which must be met at all costs. I think that is the theme of this film.It is very well acted. Be careful if you are going to try and save someone that you know what you are doing lest you end up damaging yourself and all around you.