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Circle of Friends

Chris O'Donnell , Minnie Driver , Pat O'Connor    Unrated   VHS Tape
3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (51 customer reviews)

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A polished gem from 1995, this disarmingly sweet and dramatically insightful love story provided a charming showcase for Chris O'Donnell and, especially, then-newcomer Minnie Driver, whose performance drew critical raves and boosted her career to Hollywood. Smoothly adapted from the novel by Maeve Binchy and set in Ireland during the 1950s, the story focuses on Benny (Driver), a somewhat plump, plain-looking young woman attending university in Dublin who meets and quickly falls for Jack (O'Donnell), a handsome star of the university's rugby team who surprisingly reciprocates her glowing admiration. They're drawn together as soul mates, and their love is dramatically contrasted with a subplot involving Benny's more conventionally beautiful friend Nan (Saffron Burrows), whose appetite for older men leads her into a misguided and ultimately tragic relationship. A betrayal by Jack sets the stage for potential heartbreak, but director Pat O'Connor prevents these carefully drawn characters from resorting to sappy melodrama. They have lessons to learn about life and love, and Circle of Friends teaches those lessons with grace, humor, and heartfelt sincerity. --Jeff Shannon

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Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Charming. Minnie Driver at her best. Jan 18 2003
Format:DVD
This quaint movie based on a book of the same name is charming and well told. The story revolves around three friends with very different aspirations. Minnie Driver plays Bennie Hogan, a frumpy young lady who is destined to spend the rest of her life running her families tailoring shop in her small home town. She is forever plagued by the attention of her fathers assistant, played by Alan Cumming (who plays sleazy rat very well) and becomes smitten with local college boy Jack Foley (Chris O'Donnell). Benny has two best friends, Eve and Nan. Nan is played by English Temptress Saffron Burrows. She wants to get out of the small town and she thinks that her meal ticket is rich boy Simon Westward (Colin Firth). Little does she know, Simon is just using her as a plaything and has no intention of ever making her his wife. When Nan turns up pregnant and Westward turns his back on her, she turns to her best friends bo, Jack for comfort. She tricks him and makes him think the baby is his. Eve, who was born to a poor family has only the gottage left to her by her parents to call her own. The friends think of it as a stolen hideaway in the woods where they can go to escape the world. Then one day Eve finds things amiss in the cottage and she figures out what Nan has been up to, and it turns ugly. This circle of friends has to be broken, but is there any mending it, or are these three girls destined to move on without one another?
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars An unlikely love story. Dec 30 2002
Format:DVD
This is one of my favorite movies. The story follows Benny(Minnie Driver) and her best friends Eve and Nan as the discover their own sexuality. Growing up Irish Catholic they have been taught to repress any of their feelings. Benny gets hooked on the cutest boy in school Jack(Chris O'Donnell). And Jack falls for big-girl Benny because she is so easy to talk to. Nan gets involved with an older, rich man Simon(Colin Firth). Benny's parents want her to marry "Creepy Sean Walsh"(Alan Cummings) but Benny refuses to go with him because she is in love with Jack. When Nan gets pregant she changes everyones lives. Defiantly worth watching. Enjoyable, and a great look at Catholics view on Sexuality. And Chris O'Donnell is looking exceptionally good.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Colin Firth fans Dec 5 2002
By A Customer
Format:DVD
Check out CF's portrayal of the creepy snob that takes advantage of the pretty social climber. Hard to believe he could look that bad!
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Most recent customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars Circle of Friends used VHF video.
This is the first time I've made a purchase from Amazon. The price was reasonable,delivery was prompt, and the product was in good condition.I will use this service again.
Published on Oct 12 2010 by Elinann
4.0 out of 5 stars worth watching
i read the book, but as usual, i try to refrain from comparing the movie to the book. because if you do, you're usually up for one big fat disappointment. Read more
Published on Mar 4 2004 by Juniper
1.0 out of 5 stars Diappointment
I'm amazed how they could have completely destroyed the theme of such a charming book when adapting it to the screen. Read more
Published on Jan 19 2004
3.0 out of 5 stars Read the BOOK
Yes, it is a very good movie, but the book is so much better. It has a way better ending. I suggest first reading the book, it is so much better.
Published on Nov 6 2003
4.0 out of 5 stars One of The Best Movies I've Ever Seen!
Wonderfully enchanting story of unlikly love, and heartbreak. Benny is an 18 year old College student being pursued by a much older employee of her father's business, Sean. Read more
Published on Sep 6 2003
5.0 out of 5 stars *Circle of Friends* is a must-have
I just saw this movie on the ABC Family Channel and I enjoyed it thoroughly! The story is set in the 1950s in Dublin and a small town outside of it. Read more
Published on July 18 2003 by Lisa DiNoia
5.0 out of 5 stars A quaint little film with lots of appeal!
I have loved Maeve Binchy's work since I picked up the novel Circle of Friends. When the movie came out I dreaded what they would do to such a great piece of work, but I was... Read more
Published on May 16 2003 by Barbara Kang
5.0 out of 5 stars Circle of "Wonderful" Friends
This movie was beautifully portrayed and beautifully acted. It was by far, Chris O'Donnell's best movie. Read more
Published on Mar 10 2003 by J. A. Stickles
4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, but the book was better (See my About Area)
While I thought that the cinematic vision of Benny's story was beautiful to see and certainly very well-cast, the translation lost something when it went from book to screen. Read more
Published on Mar 6 2003 by curvynovelsdotinfo
1.0 out of 5 stars Read the Book Instead!
This is one of the worst transitions of book to film ever! A great novel about the growing confidence and independence of a young woman has been turned in to a story of a school... Read more
Published on Mar 4 2003 by J. Brennan
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