nigel balchin maze like novel a way through the wood have be adapt by julian fellowes who also direct this terribly british drawing room suspense piece . it be a film whose effect rely on the cast portray the varyingly benign or malignant character and it be here that fellowes directorial choice be superb . the story have a linear line that be easy to follow and but the beauty of the film be the metamorphosis of each player a a single incident ignite a minefield of disaster . james man ( tom wilkinson ) be a successful business obsess solicitor in london and marry to anne ( emily watson ) who need more in her life represent the couple be childless live in the country in a beautiful estate and assist by their long term cleaner maggie ( linda bassett ) . they attend social outing and meet and among others and william bule ( rupert everett ) and the passively lazy wealthy neighbor . anne decides they should entertain their neighbor and against gruff james protestation anne proceeds with plan represent james arrange to not attend due to business . on the night of the party there be a hit and run accident in which maggie husband be accidentally kill by someone in a range rover ( she observe ) . when james return home he see a scratch on william range rover and suspect william to be the perpetrator . anne discourage james from go to the police with the information what possible good can it do but ruin bill life a a socialite and father and son of an important scion . from this first lie the virus spread represent james confronts bill who talk jam out of go to the police and anne confesses it be she who be drive bill rover and be the one responsible and james convinces anne to keep it quiet because it would ruin his reputation and anne confesses she be have an affair with bill and and the three of them concur that they will stick together on their big lie for the sake of the great good . anne eventually succumb to the guilt of not tell her beloved maggie that she be the one responsible and maggie and herself guilty of a previous theft whose life be save by anne mercy to hire her anyway and be the agent who draw the story to it surprising conclusion . lie begat lie that begat lie and et cetera . the major impact of this intrigue be the manner in which the isolated tragedy impact each of the character involve . each change in a dramatic way . tome wilkinson give the fine performance of a career fill with brilliant performance represent he be able to say more with his posture and facial expression than about any actor before the audience today . likewise the gifted emily watson add yet another fine role to her repertoire a do the surprisingly smarmy rupert everett who and despite be yet another wealthy british gentleman and give u a man both arid of spirit and yet ultimately needy . and the always fine linda bassett take a small role and finesses it make her character quietly central to the chaotic web of lie . the cinematography by tony pierce robert and the musical score by stanislas syrewicz add immeasurably to the multiple atmospheres the story encounter . this be ensemble play at it fine and which always mean that the director ( julian fellowes ) have a fine grasp on the piece . the interplay of these fine people make the dodgy story work very well indeed . grady harp .