Les âges du coeur

Tatum O'Neal has been movie selective and has had a checkered past.

I truly enjoy every time I see Circle of Two. When I expect the cliches I see from watching numerous films, I do not get them--even when they approach them.

This is a doomed love, but one that is real. Very few films view this aspect of love without being sappy or swallowing themselves in sexual release.

I am biased toward Tatum O'Neal as an actress, so my comments are bent toward her as such. Yet, there is something in this film that makes me understand emotional truths.

I wish I could explain the importance of this film...

This is a film about romance - deep romance - and it has stayed with me since I first saw it many years ago. There is nothing at all tasteless in the depiction of the relationship between Ashley Sinclair (Richard Burton) and Sara (Tatum O' Neal). It has a lot of purity - partly, I suppose because their love was unconsummated physically - yet, it really was infinitely consummated mentally and emotionally in a way. Two people in love doing, one supposes, the "right" thing - the ending of this film is very heart-wrenching for anyone who has ever had to make difficult choices in love. I thought that both Richard Burton and Tatum O'Neal were perfect in their roles, and their love was highly believable. I also thought the title song was very memorable - there have been many times I have heard it in my head over the years. A great love story, that, unfortunately, not that many people know about.

I can't say I agree with the writer from England, but then we may have a different view on this film. To start with, I feel that this was one of Tatum's best performances of her film career. While only 17 during filming, she showed the acting ability of an "old soul" and her depth of feeling, not to mention her wit, was outstanding. Richard Burton played his part in an appropriately low keyed manner, which only added to the romantic air of the whole movie. The subject matter is hard for many people to swallow, but the fact of life is that while justice is supposed to be blind, love most certainly is and it can play hell with those involved. If it weren't for the age difference, we would be discussing a later version of Love Story. Maybe the O'Neals are trying to corner the market on love stories. One other item that I disagree with is during the nude scene, Tatum didn't actually offer herself to Richard, but she asked that he paint her in the nude as he had done with a prior lover. Be ye male or female, A Circle Of Two, is certainly made for those die-hard romantics, so if you have seen Love Story and didn't much care for it, then you won't care for this one either. No sex and the nude scene is very brief, so don't watch it for either of those items. However, if you love a good love story and you aren't put off by peoples age, then pull up and chair and rent this one, if you are lucky enough to find it.

The relationship between a burnt-out painter of 60 and the schoolgirl who inspires him to start working again. She falls for him, he keeps her at arm's length, but the strain of pubescent desire is too much and she starts to crack. Tatum O'Neal is lovely in this film. She's not a lazy actress, she simply doesn't ham it up like today's teen players. The sequence where she hopes to seduce painter Richard Burton by disrobing in his studio is quite sad (she wants to surprise him, he surprises her by getting angry). The scene with Tatum and Richard hanging out with a group of her school-friends is wonderful (none of the girls judge him or second-guess her) and O'Neal is sweet promising to return to Burton as quickly as she can ("I'll break all speed records!" she tells him). There are no "Lolita" overtones here. Tatum plays a fairly normal teenager who develops a crush on a fascinating man who is much older. Her heart is bound to get broken, and Burton tries his best to steer her through this. It's a simple, no-frills Canadian drama that will appeal to romantics and young women who may have experienced a crush like this along the way. **1/2 from ****

Circle of Two stars Richard Burton and Tatum O'Neal as a 60-is artist and sixteen year old girl caught in unusual love. There both quite good here, the story is handled very tastefully. I recently re-watched this movie after many years and was pleasantly surprised at how good it really is.

Is it a great, can't miss, movie? No, but its certainly much better than its maligned reputation would have you believe. The love is pure and platonic, though sexual desire is clearly felt by both. Burton is good, often the looks of songful agony on Burton weather lined face hit you straight in the heart, he clearly realizes age is upon him and wonders at his own motives in a romantic friendship with a impressionable girl. Particulay the scene in the park, where St. Clair (Burton) tells the story of William Blake, is excellent and allegorical.

O'Neal was probably at her best here, not too far removed from her Oscar-winning performance in "Paper Moon". She certainly plays another "say-it-straight" Kid here. And she does it well.

The score for the film is quite good and really lasts with you. Sort of like "Endless Love" There is a scene of violence in the film and some tasteful nudity, still I think this is fine for mature teens and adults. If you only know Circle of Two by its unkind reviews, check it out. It's worth your time and effort to see something different.