28 Hotel Rooms

I would not have chosen this movie but woke up to it in the middle of the night - and was quickly hooked. The characters are wonderful to get to know as they increasingly get to know each other, and delightfully free of self-pity or narcissism. The device they use to go from scene to scene is a black out followed by a new room number which is the scene of their next tryst. That device cleverly moves the action along a continuum of character development and maturing of their relationship without ever bogging down in an overly heavy dialog. Both actors have that kind of cinematic face which is fun to watch and never boring. Best thing I can say about this movie, though, is that it was written, produced, directed, and acted with an intelligence all too rarely found in today's American movies. And not a single car chase, explosion, or blood spattered body! No wonder it wasn't advertised by the studio!

I'm writing a review because I don't think people should avoid watching it based on the low rating. Yes, the movie is filmed in nothing but hotel rooms and with only two actors BUT there is actually more to it than it sounds. I honestly found myself get a little restless in the beginning but I still was interested in finding out what was going to happen to them. After about 15-20 minutes it picked up for me and I didn't feel the need fast forward it. I've always felt like 95% of people are capable of cheating on the person the love. It just takes the wrong kind of day with the perfect opportunity and BAM! I actually wish I didn't feel like that but I'm almost 43 now and I have felt like that for as long as I can remember. So I can see how they ended up in the mess that they did. Though "the husband" was never in the movie I felt really bad for him, even if he didn't know anything about it.

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.

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.

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.