28 Hotel Rooms

28 Hotel Rooms is in some ways a formalistic movie -- the structure of the film and its cast are highly unusual and constrained. But rather than feel confining or artificial, this allows an intense focus on the actors and their performances.

These performances are so true, and so devoid of stagey or film-y artifice, that it makes other movies about romance feel false in comparison. There is no "saying the perfect thing at the perfect time" to the seduction between the leads, as there is in so many other movies. Instead, you see charisma that mirrors how charisma really operates among real people.

The same thing with their communication and difficult emotions: they are presented in a loose, real, palpable way, without being dressed up or made to have artificial consequences.

The only false note, for me, was the final scene; I didn't totally buy it.

This movie is excellent. The acting is impressive, especially Chris Messina. The two main characters are captivating, and the movie grabs you attention and never lets it go. Despite the fact that it takes place entirely in hotel rooms, the movie is interesting, thought provoking, and will take your emotions all over the place. It doesn't need fancy scenery or special effects, the acting and story line do all work. What I consider to be a hallmark of a great movie is that you still think and care about it afterwards. This movie is original and makes you think, and could quite possibly cause you to feel differently about the black and white world of infidelity, maybe there are shades of gray. I have re-watched this twice now, it feels real when so much out there is fake.

Normally I'm not a fan of infidelity in films. I think monogamy is ideal and my feelings haven't changed. But 28 Hotel Rooms brings up the question "Can you be in love with more than one person at the same time?" What if you're a happy relationship and unexpectedly meet a person who MIGHT be your soulmate? Do you stay in your stable relationship while you pine for someone else? Do you leave that relationship for the new person that you have known for a much more briefly? Maybe it's not black and white.

There is something about dating and affair. If the involved parties do not care about the meaning of marriage, they would be the same.

The idea of this movie is somehow unique but it doesn't mean it is good. If the director used its scenario as a sub-plot not the main course, it might be just fine. There are people would not pass their adolescence through out their life time. They are not going to change their behaviors no matter what stages of their lives are . So can you blame them? I guess not. This movie depicted that type of people. There is a little depth in this movie. It pretty much surrounded with dark sides of adultery which were nothing new.

I think if the main course has its unique storyline then adultery would enhance its complexity. It is a movie with too little effort to make a good one. So to speak.

A memorable film, a visual treat, so skillfully shot, and emotionally real with outstanding performances by two people caught up in doing the wrong thing when unable to resist the pull of forces many of us might succumb to or at least feel.

Matt Ross has built this work around two characters that are flawed and perhaps not adequate in substance for his prodigious talent but what he has created flashes with real insight into what happens when passion and love arise and grow within the confined space outside marital vows. We know from the start that we are on a journey where anything might happen and Ross's management of that wild ride is handled with an impressive intelligence while avoiding the predictable outcomes.

Viewer response could understandably be driven by whether he/she can empathize with the wrong doers or the off screen victims.

I can't wait to see what is next from Mr. Ross.