Feu de glace

Killing Me Softly W/ Heather Graham Rating: DUD

The main reason I picked this movie was because it was unrated and had Heather Graham in a starring role. Would that translate into hot love making scenes? YES! I no longer have to use my imagination to see what she looks like having sex with no clothes on. Aside from that, the movie totally blew chunks. Plus, she's not really a great actess if you haven't noticed. But if your looking for a semi-porno movie without the shame of actually renting one, this is IT!

I fail to understand why all the critics are coming down on this film with such vicious fury. Granted, this is not a Hitchcockian masterpiece, but please, give the movie a break. The same critics give decent marks for movies which are really way below this one, and sometimes even to pure trash, as long as they have a good Hollywood pedigree. Well, this one may not have the proper pedigree, but I nevertheless found it to be a very decent thriller, one that kept me interested and on edge most of the time, had a plausible story, and one whose ending was not totally predictable (which is more than you can say for most thrillers nowadays).

All in all, a good evenings entertainment for adults, well worth watching.

Could have been a whole lot better, the film is, nevertheless, not as bad as some suggest. I only got round to watching it because it came on the same Blu-ray disc as Dennis Hopper's Hot Spot - goodness knows why, I can't think of anything they have in common. The other reason was the hysterical comments from some on Amazon (and they must have been from people that chose to buy the film). Heather Graham is fine and certainly performs the sex scenes well but Natascha McElhone looks better and seems more assured an actress throughout. Co-incidently (or not!) both actresses appeared in the US TV show Californication with David Duchovny, who, now I think about it would have been a better bet than the rather flat, Joseph Fiennes in the lead. Music seems inspired by that for Basic Instinct and someone was probably hoping this might reach those heights, but no such luck. I see the story is based upon a book by Nicci French. I have not read her but find it hard to believe that the dull, uninteresting and unbelievable storyline is her fault. Something very substantial must have been taken out (lesbian affair? incestuous relationship?) because although made with great style, this really does not amount to much.

There are many implausibilities in this movie. This is not exactly erotica, nor is it drama (the characters barely speak and considering that, the expressions are not enough). HG's character, Alice, seems too cute to be sexy and adventurous.

Also, I have watched many films with similar endings, so I could guess it much earlier. However, the red herrings were nice.

I couldn't understand the loose end of Alice's boyfriend seen with her colleague.

Overall, I feel that this film's premise could have been explored on film much better than how it was. And the acting was rather on the poorer side.

"Killing Me Softly" tells of a couple who has sex, gets married, and then has problems because she (Graham) grows increasingly suspicious of him (Fiennes) whom she never really got to know before the marriage (duh). On the downside, the film has a thin story full of plot holes and implausibilities with ponderous music which is always off target and a perfectly awful school girl performance by Graham. On the upside, it's a good shoot with good camera work and lots of Graham skin. Overall, "Killing Me Softly" is a classy loser only for the less discerning viewer who wants a little suspense (very little) to zone to. (C)