This film grabs you on several emotional levels and maintains a consistent power to enthral throughout, not a mean achievement in this material and superficial age. The depiction of a ruthlessly predatory female is perfectly rendered by the female lead Juliette Brinoche. Who would think that so much scheming energy could be contained in this pint-sized woman? When her shattering and shocking early life is revealed, then we realise where these searing and ultimately destructive forces originated. One almost feels sorry for Jeremy Irons, the unfortunate man who falls for her in a hopeless tangle of wayward emotions. Then our sympathy quickly evaporates when we realise what a total idiot he is. From then on we fervently hope that the two utterly selfish protagonists are hell bent on their richly deserved demise. We are not disappointed in this respect, but the journey through the course of their torrid affair is not an easy one for the viewer. Satisfied we may be that their just deserts come to fruit, but not before we undergo a roller-coaster ride of emotional intensity rarely seen in modern cinema. It is a fascinating peep into the world of the rich and powerful with their bland acceptance of their fortunate place in society and blinkered assumption that their destiny is somehow richly deserved, predestined even. How cheered we are when events occur that can not only shake them to their self-satisfied core, but also totally destroy them. So although this wonderful film is often an unsettling experience, it has a strong feel-good factor at its heart.

I watched this movie several times and gradually developing obsession on its own. It probably sounded more terrified than it should. However, I would say I was obsessive to figure out how the obsession started.There are carnal desires embedded in our instincts which somehow hard to detect not even be recognized with. How we are drawn into someone without even knowing the person it's beyond our comprehension. This movie is a good presentation for that. Obsession cannot be categorized as love. Love is reciprocal. Obsession is forceful without mutual interaction which may cause harms even cost the ultimate price. I think the origin of obsession might come from past traumatic experiences which is so well explained in the movie. There are several movies well laying out the obsession but not the reasons. This one is different. It showed how it started and developed which I was not aware in the beginning until later. I am not a big fan of dark subjects. This one has more substances than others.There is only one thing I felt short of is it did not explain Stephen's process of desiring an affair. As a prominent figure, his struggles seemed not well explained beyond he just ditching out here and there. I felt it should be more than that. It's a good movie just not everybody's cup of tea.

Damage is by no means an easy film to sit through. It's not your conventional love triangle film, but rather a film about two people who give themselves to each other with no thought to the consequences of what they are doing. Politician Stephen Miller meets his son Martin's new girlfriend, Anna Barton, and almost immediately the two begin an obsessive affair. Of course, this unhealthy attraction can only end badly, and it does.Part of the reason why Damage is so difficult to watch is because the two main characters are so detestable. Stephen is a man who has it all; a loving wife, two children and a career. And he throws it all away for a girl he doesn't even know (they hardly talk, their relationship is all about obsessive lust), whom we know is a damaged soul herself with a dark past. Juliette Binoche crafts the morbid character of Anna well with vacant stares, an androgynous air, yet enough charm so that we at least see what Stephen sees in her. Neither gives any thought to the people around them and what their essentially hollow affair does.About the only character on whose side I was on, and who made the movie worthwhile for me, was Stephen's wife Ingrid, phenomenally played by Miranda Richardson. Towards the end of the movie, she explodes on the screen and wrenches the hearts of the audience. It's easy to see why Miranda Richardson was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for the role. If you can stomach two destructive, very much unlikeable leads, Richardson's performance makes the ride at least worthwhile.

There is a moment that almost every human being has. It is that moment when we see another person across a room, at a party, at work or waiting for a bus and we are sexually attracted to them. We don't make a move but keep our eyes on them. For most of us we suddenly look away before being noticed. Stephen Fleming has a moment like that in 'Damage' but chooses not to look away and throughout the film we sense that if he had, his life would have been different.The woman in named Anne and he keeps his eyes on her long after it would seem appropriate. Each knows what the other is thinking. There is a mutual sexual attraction, a heat between these two that is brought about by glances and slight gestures. We might feel compelled to be happy for Stephen and Anne if it weren't for the fact that he is married and that she is engaged .. . to his son.They have sex and the scenes are handled, not at exploitation but as an athletic, carnal act that comes out of instinct not pornography. Their sex is pure reckless abandon, without any thoughts to the people that they are hurting. We know that Stephen is headed for disaster but he keeps on having an affair with Anna. This is a relationship brought out of sexual obsession, not romance or reason.This movie would be nothing without the right actors in the role. Jeremy Irons has always been a powerful actor when it comes to playing a man consumed by passion. Here he keeps gunning the motor of his lust even if it risks breaking his life apart. Juliet Binoche is one of my favorite actresses. She is an actress who knows how to give a performance based on gestures. She isn't required to speak much in 'Damage' but at one point she tells Irons about a painful event from her past. She describes herself as damaged and dangerous. This is another warning sign that Stephen has chosen to avoid.Miranda Richardson is also excellent as Irons' wife. The emotional turmoil her character goes through at the end is heartbreaking. She is filled with frustration, confusion, hatred and heartbreak. Her outbursts and her actions are appropriate.'Damage' reminds me of 'The Last Tango in Paris', another movie about sexual obsession. In both films we see destructive forces at work. These films are not sex romps used to titillate (like the similar but lame 'Basic Instinct') but as a human craving that the characters seemingly don't know any other way to deal with. Watching 'Damage' is like watching a train wreck. You cannot bear to look nor can you bear to look away.