By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3 cats
Director: Massy Tadjedin
Starring: Anson Mount | Eva Mendes | Griffin Dunne | Guillaume Canet | Keira Knightley | Sam Worthington
Country: france, united_states
Year: 2011
Running time: 90
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1294688/
Chris says: “This is a first feature for director Tadjedin and it’s an assured debut although there’s not that much to it. The relationship drama centers on striking Joanna Reed (Knightley), a writer working on her 2nd novel, and her construction contractor husband Michael (Worthington). One night they go to a company party where Joanna meets Laura who works with Michael and she thinks she detects an attraction between Michael and the hot co-worker. The couple have a fight about it that night after returning from the party. Shortly thereafter Michael takes a train to Philadelphia along with Laura and two other co-workers for an important presentation. That same day Joanna runs across Alex, who’s visiting from Paris, who she had an affair with during a turbulent time earlier in her marriage and they spend the day and night together. Alex, the dashing Frenchman, is still hopelessly in love with Joanna and he desperately wants to resume their affair. In the meantime Michael & Laura actually do finally have intercourse after getting drunk. The next day Michael returns to new York early feeling contrite but accepts Joanna’s apology about her ‘unwarranted’ jealousy. And while nothing happened between Joanna & Alex she also is feeling somewhat guilty about the past affair. The film is beautifully played and it was especially nice to see Worthington in a non-blockbuster role (TERMINATOR SALVATION, AVATAR, CLASH OF THE TITANS), although he had made an impression as Macbeth in the modern-dress gangster version of the Shakespeare classic (2006). Knightley is always worth watching and she nails her part. The low-key approach doesn’t make for a totally worthy entry but it was easy enough to watch. 3 cats”