Unfaithful Review
by Karina Montgomery (karina AT cinerina DOT com)December 12th, 2002
Unfaithful
Matinee with Snacks
No, you are not more surprised than I am at my rating. I resisted this flick until the breaking point, but once I watched it, I have to give it high marks for structure, style, execution, and all that good stuff. I know, I *do* hear myself. I am still surprised.
Diane Lane, for starters, delivers a truly kick ass performance - dare I say, sensational? As the title may hint, Lane's character (Constance, ha ha) enters into an affair with French treat Olivier Martinez, much to the eventual chagrin of her husband, played by Richard Gere. I'm not going to say Gere is the next Alan Rickman, but he does do something new with the easily-piegonholed role of cuckold. Martinez is sexy as hell, but still somehow stays accessible, quite a feat! But Lane, honestly, is Oscar caliber here. One particular scene on a train, just her with no dialogue, only snippet cuts of flashback and her reactions to those thoughts, is impressive enough alone to warrant her a nomination. Director Adrian "I Like Movies About Complicated Sex" Lyne puts the cherry on the sundae with an echoing train scene towards the end of the film.
The affair itself begins in an unusually organic and interesting way, villainizing no one despite the clear injustice of the behavior. It's more romantic than horny, and we watch Connie's secret and open relationships skew and grow as the story progresses. Her surrender is emotional and truly honest. Go Diane!
In way, Unfaithful is presented no differently than all the drug movies in vogue these days - introduction, intoxication, addiction, affliction. The tension stretches forever, a credit to both Lane and Lyne. You might know this director's previous work with similar themes: 9 1/2 Weeks, Fatal Attraction, Indecent Proposal, and Lolita. Oh and Flashdance. Despite a track record which, had I recognized his name, would definitely made me skip the film, he does great here.
The scenes themselves as so much subtext and so little dialogue that you have to wonder how this screenplay saw the light of day, viewed just on paper. Leave it to Alvin Sargent (Ordinary People) and not Alvin Sargent (Hero). IMDB credits it as a remake of the 1969 file La Femme Infidele, and maybe that is how it got made. I am glad it did, and I don't care who knows it. It had a complex resolution and denouement, and overall, I barely have minor complaints. If anything, Gere's character was a little thinly sketched and gets suspicious far too easily, but perhaps that is a credit to the character's devotion to his wife. Either way, I have to say I really enjoyed the film, simple as that. It's worth your money. Unlike Solaris.
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These reviews (c) 2002 Karina Montgomery. Please feel free to forward but just credit the reviewer in the text. Thanks.
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