The Director and Screenwriter of Iris, Richard Eyre, states during the special features DVD Commentary that one cannot understand the enormity of the loss to Alzheimer's of the protagonist, novelist Iris Murdoch, without appreciating what was lost. So he divides the story of Iris into the present day narrative of her deterioration due to Alzheimer's and flashbacks to the courtship and eventual marriage of the younger Iris (played by Kate Winslet) to Professor John Bayley back in the 1950s. The young Bayley is played by Hugh Bonneville who bears a striking resemblance to Jim Broadbent, who plays the elderly Bayley opposite Judi Dench as the now afflicted elderly Iris.

Because Eyre approaches Murdoch as a virtual seminal figure in the history of world literature, the flashback scenes add up to nothing much more than a hagiography. While the contrast between the two personalities, the mercurial, flirtatious Iris and bookish academician Baley should lead to some gripping tension, in the end there is scant conflict between the two. Yes, Iris's voluminous affairs are alluded to and there is one scene where she and Bayley have a protracted argument regarding those affairs, in the end however, there is little we learn that is interesting about the earlier relationship. While Eyre has the benefit of Bayley's recent recollections concerning the extent and scope of Iris's deterioration, the flashbacks are obviously based on distant memories of the relationship. In short, I don't believe that Eyre has made his case that there was a great 'loss' based on his portrait of the early Iris. As a young woman she flirted and had affairs with other men; eventually she matured and was a nurturing presence in not-so-confident John Bayley's life. Eyre's flashbacks are photographed quite nicely and the setting evokes the bygone era of the 50s. But I still want to know what is so special about Iris Murdoch. I might find that out reading her books, but it certainly is not conveyed here in this film.

Eyre is on much more solid in ground the retelling of Murdoch's decline in more recent times. Judi Dench is excellent (as usual) as a woman who gradually deteriorates due to the ravages of Alzheimer's. The decline is subtle at the beginning as we see Dench struggle with language. Later, in a memorable scene, she is unable to recall the name of the then current British Prime Minister, Tony Blair (but remembers it later). When her novel arrives in the mail, she shows no awareness that she's the author and is more perturbed by the presence of the mailman ("it's only the postman"). More harrowing scenes follow: as she deteriorates further, she wanders out of the house, only to be found hours later by a former friend who attended their wedding (and who Bayley fails to recognize!); upon being told of the death of a close friend, Iris freaks out, grabs the wheel of the car Bayley is driving which results in an accident—she's thrown from the car but ends up lying in the woods on the side of the road, virtually uninjured.

Jim Broadbent received the best supporting Oscar for his performance in Iris and it's well deserved. At first Bayley is in denial about Iris's condition. He continues to treat her as if she's normal. In a classic study of the stages of grief, Bayley (a suppressed character to begin with) finally lets out his frustration and anger as Iris's condition takes a turn for the worse. Eventually there's acceptance, despite Iris's complete loss of memory. At the end, Bayley is forced to put Iris in a home but is right there with her as she passes on.

Iris is a graceful and beautifully photographed film. While the examination of Iris and John Baley's early relationship is superficial, the chronicle of Iris's sad decline is a textbook study of what happens to people when they end up afflicted with Alzheimer's. What's more, Broadbent and Dench, convey the intimate bond between the two characters despite the overwhelmingly trying circumstances.

Even a movie that doesn't purport to get to the meat and potatoes of its subject needs to give a frame of reference. The shift between Iris and John's "old" and "young" selves was maddening. Did they just leap over middle age? I imagine they had many adventures, adventures that would've helped us understand what made them tick.

I can see why Iris was attracted to the novelty of being with John: he's a sweet puppy, someone you'd take to Mom. But he's not a serious affair and certainly not a life partner. Indeed, his willingness to be her doormat is such that his outbursts come off as forced, as if Eyre suddenly realized that John was in serious danger of becoming a martyr.

But Eyre wimps out with Iris's relationships with Maurice and Janet. The second we see him, we know Maurice is a gay man who "switch hits" with Iris, hence, his viciousness when she unexpectedly brings John along for dinner. Yet while John seems clueless about Maurice, he is quite accepting of Janet, either because she is a woman or he expects Iris to shag whomever.

And why does she cheat? Is what attracts her to John the same thing that repels her? Is fidelity a concept that she has rejected as Man's imposed will on Woman? Is she amoral? Or is he just lousy in the sack? Your guess is as good as mine.

As far as the acting, what do you expect from Dame Judi and Kate Winslet? Too bad they didn't have anything real to work with.

Judi Dench gives the performance of a lifetime as author Iris Murdoch, who eventually developed Alzheimer's disease. She really gets into the role, as she's done with every one of her performances with which I'm familiar. Jim Broadbent won Best Supporting Actor playing her husband John Bayley, who loves her but often gets frustrated by her mental condition. This is certainly a movie that I recommend to everyone. Also starring Kate Winslet as young Iris, and Hugh Bonneville as young John.

I still remember when Jim Broadbent won his Oscar. The next day, we were hiking up an Indian dwelling in Bandalier, New Mexico (it was spring break),and I was thinking: "When people heard that, I bet that most of them were thinking "Jim who?".