Séduction fatale

"Tempted" tries to be one of those sweaty New Orleans noir crime flicks about infidelity, jealousy, deceit, temptation, treachery, and murder. Unfortunately the film plays out like a B-flick in all respects from shallow characters whom were not given a reason to care if they live or die to a convoluted and minimally interesting story with soporific side effects. A marginal small screen watch at best for crime junkies only. (D+)

New Orleans businessman Burt Reynolds takes it into his head to test wife Saffron Burrows' fidelity. He gives day laborer Peter Facinelli $10,000 to try to seduce her, and promises another $40,000 if he succeeds. At first she's not interested. However, when Reynolds' secretary tells her about the matter, she sleeps with Facinelli. This sets off a chain of betrayal and murder.

There are a couple of plot hole and a couple of very convenient coincidences in this movie, but it was effective, mostly because the performers are good enough to mask their conflicted emotions throughout. Reynolds is good, although he can't do a New Orleans or Cajun, or whatever he's supposed to be accent, and Miss Burrows is a very skinny and attractive young woman in a couple of soft-core porn scenes. With Mike Starr, Carol Sutton, and Eric Mabius.

Well,as i don't have a TV yet in my new place i rent movies pretty much and i picked Tempted today. The combination of Burt Reynolds and Saffron Burrows in the same movie made me wonder how it would be like and the story looked interesting so i had a go and must say i quite liked it...In fact i think i want to see it again to have a closer look at it but so far so good. It's one of those movies where you need to scratch your head to fully understand the motivation of the characters and after you see it, you are still trying to figure it out:why did he/she do that? The whole cast is interesting but i must say that Burt Reynolds was a surprise as we don't see him that often in movies anymore and it's disturbing me.. but i still don't know if it's in a good or bad way... His character in the movie being obsessive might as well fit the fact that we are not used to see him acting that way.. Saffron Burrows's character Lilly is enigmatic and as far as i am concerned she does a pretty good job. And Peter Facinelli is the victim in all this. Never saw him before but he convinced me pretty much even tho i was also distracted by his good look..

What i liked about the movie and makes it interesting is the improvisation of the actors.It's unusual and hard,so i give an A+ for that.

The movie was shot in New-Orleans,it gives a mysterious and dangerous aura to it..Seems like you can feel the moisture if you know what i mean..

Well,see it for yourself is my advice,you might be amazingly surprised.

I found the film nailed me from the beginning, this film has nearly everything a decent film has to have , good-great acting, an original concept, a good trace of the pilot, many turns and twists...

See this film without high expectations, its not a classic , but a film that will keep you on your seat while watching it, thats for sure.

If I had put two and two together that this is the same director, Bill Bennett, that had done "The Nugget", which I thought was an abominable supposed comedy, I probably never would have watched "Tempted". Unfortunately I would have missed a very intriguing neo-noir, so I'm not ashamed to give credit where credits due. Burt Reynolds hires a carpenter, Peter Facinelli, who works for him, to severely test his beautiful wife's fidelity. The script has many twists and turns, a few of which seem to slightly stretch credibility, but overall this is a fine, entertaining film. The erotic moments work, and the story fills the 91 minute running time nicely. Recommended. - MERK