PLOT SPOILER IN FIRST PARAGRAPH ALERT!!! Let me say up front that I am a huge fan of Angelina Jolie and I think she brings a great depth to more or less all the characters she plays (with the obvious exclusion of Lara Croft). Here I got the feeling that she was more or less sleep walking through the movie until the point at which she realises that she has slept with the killer. Here I completely bought into her genuine sense of shock at her own ineptitude and lack of judgement.
This is a "by the numbers" thriller which tries hard to throw you off the scent but ultimately fails. I think that is because Ethan Hawke is dreadfully mis-cast and you just don't warm to the guy or his character from the off. It is also a stretch to think that Illeana (Jolie) would fall for him hook line and sinker as he just doesn't carry the charisma that the task would need.
Overall, this film does not serve up the required shocks to drag it into a higher rating but it does have two effective moments. The first one on the mattress; if you've seen the movie you'll know what I mean, and the other is the "slap" scene - genuinely shocking.
This is a movie that tries hard. Everyone in it has been a whole lot better at other points in their careers but overall it's not the trainwreck some would have you believe.
Incidentally, after his turn in Phonebooth - is Keifer Sutherland getting a taste for these walk on cameos?
This is a "by the numbers" thriller which tries hard to throw you off the scent but ultimately fails. I think that is because Ethan Hawke is dreadfully mis-cast and you just don't warm to the guy or his character from the off. It is also a stretch to think that Illeana (Jolie) would fall for him hook line and sinker as he just doesn't carry the charisma that the task would need.
Overall, this film does not serve up the required shocks to drag it into a higher rating but it does have two effective moments. The first one on the mattress; if you've seen the movie you'll know what I mean, and the other is the "slap" scene - genuinely shocking.
This is a movie that tries hard. Everyone in it has been a whole lot better at other points in their careers but overall it's not the trainwreck some would have you believe.
Incidentally, after his turn in Phonebooth - is Keifer Sutherland getting a taste for these walk on cameos?