Even the most novice literary scholar knows the sordid details of England’s longest-running literary soap opera and the tragic ending to Sylvia Plath’s story.

‘Dying is an art, like everything else,’ muses Plath (Gwyneth Paltrow) early on. ‘I do it exceptionally well.’

With this knowledge in mind, expect a dark and depressing story that will both engage and unravel you. Director Christine Jeffs (Rain) brings far more to the screen than a simple tale of poetic woe.

It’s obvious why the movie’s working title was Ted and Sylvia John Brownlow’s screenplay focuses solely on the stormy marriage between Plath and fellow poet Ted Hughes (Daniel Craig), which many believe contributed to her depression and eventual suicide. Brownlow ditched ‘Bell Jar’-style visits to mental institutions and references to Plath’s experiences as a New York writer. We’re left merely with the story of Sylvia and Ted.

The narrow focus does not detract from the movie instead, it helps to hauntingly and effectively portray Plath’s mental deterioration. Suspicious of her husband’s fidelity, Plath slowly spirals into the depths of insanity. The audience is left in a perplexing limbo is Hughes truly guilty of cheating, or has Sylvia, in her mental instability, completely invented the affair in her mind?

Paltrow delivers a convincing performance, especially in the wake of her surprisingly forgettable recent outings (Shallow Hal, View from the Top). Not only does she bear a startlingly close physical resemblance to Plath, she also portrays the character with the sort of painstaking melancholy akin to Nicole Kidman’s portrayal of Virginia Woolf in The Hours.

Jeffs capitalizes on the beauty of the England and New Zealand locations, creating a film as rich in hue as it is in content. Jeffs and cinematographer John Toon use vivid blues, reds and golds to effectively highlight Paltrow’s presence, reinforcing the emotional pull of the film. The more upbeat opening scenes are characterized by golden sunlight and a stunning Paltrow in red. As Plath deteriorates, so does the picturesque cinematography, leaving the movie cloaked in brown and gray.