Une double vie

I found this film in the "new release" section of the video store. I found out after watching it that it was a 2001 TV movie. I'm glad I didn't know that before or I would have never rented it. There's something about renting movies made for TV. The "London" scenes were hokey. Having been there I wasn't easily fooled. The vegetation in the park where Muire was arrested doesn't exist in London. Also Kathryn took two cab rides and both cabs had the same license plate. If you've been to London, what are the odds of catching the same cab twice? OK, I'm picky but I liked the film anyway. It reminded me of a movie called "The Deep End" with Tilda Swinton. Airline pilot husband, wife in crisis, bratty kids. The formula seems to work.

The film has the potential to be quite good. It has an interesting story line which unfold throught the movie.

When she visits London and then Ireland, you can't help thinking that the movie would be must better if the crew had spent a little bit of money on plane tickets and done some filming there! The 4 or 5 cars which appear in the background seem to follow her to ireland, which looks suspiciously like the north american coast.

But on the whole, it's a fairly average movie to pass the time. Little bit more budget? then 8 out of 10. Otherwise, about 5.

If you're a big fan of C Lahti - see this - her face is wonderful, catching myriad emotions with depth & grace.

The rest of it is lame - low plot, leads that die, ideas not followed through, unsatisfying characters going half-way, no pay off.

Campbell Scott, while easy on the eyes resorts to two tones - one flat & the other flatter.

Supporting cast has little to work with in the way of story, development or location. There is nothing redeeming about any of the film except for Lahti's acting.

You'd be better off browsing in the romance section of the used book store.

Stop me if you've seen this one before: hubby-missing-believed-dead,wifey-then-finds-out- doubtful-things-about-him...ah, but this movie goes beyond the usual formula, throwing in some political, and criminal factors...one is never sure how things are going to turn out.

Most of the characters are entertainingly devious, playing various parts to achieve each different end.., can one even count on the "heroine" wife, and her daughter ?

The dialogue is brief, and to the point, the characters ring true (even the false ones!), and I was absorbed for almost two hours...I didn't understand the ending, which is perhaps a failing of my intelligence, rather than the film's intent, whatever, that cost the film a point, I deducted another, because it was, after all, a formula film, and a third because it wasn't "Love With The Proper Stranger" - my benchmark for romantic/suspense films.

As (nearly)always, the actors are good, but I must make especial mention of Christine Lahti...when she first appears, she's just awakened, she looks drab, and her age...but, to me, she was still an attractive woman...that's charisma!

This movie was aired this week in the UK one afternoon and made for enjoyable and compulsive viewing. The story was good and all the talent worked well and I was impressed how slick was the direction and editing in telling the story. American movies work to high production values and this was no exception, very slick and watchable, but seeing what was supposed to be Ireland and London destroyed the credibility of the movie, the magic was gone. Why? I've looked at the credentials of the Producer, Director, and Art Department and they're all seasoned fine professionals, so I'd love to know why so many continuity errors were allowed in the final cut. Was is ignorance? or was there a budget problem? Somebody please tell me! Well if you think I'm being picky, here goes - Nova Scotia may look like Ireland but buildings are in stone or brick. The harbour looked nothing like Ireland, more like Norway.The Canadian registered helicopter wouldn't be working in Eire, they've got their own. A liberal dose of gaffer tape could have converted the "C" into a "G" making it a British aircraft, that would have been credible. Irish military trucks do not wear North American plates. No British Police force uses American cars or vans. The Irish Police are called the GARDA and that is displayed on their police cars which are current models with Eire plates, not like the old model England registered Range Rover used in the story. Come on guys, its a different country! The black Rover model she drove to Malin Head (and which had been parked in the London street)is a rare 1950's model, was she supposed to have rented it? Driving on the left looks OK but the double yellow lines in the centre of the road scream WRONG! Over here they mean No Parking and are at the side of the road. It seems as if the Art Department didn't know, and didn't bother to check for continuity errors, while the Director could have covered most of these sins with tighter shots. All of this adds up to a big lack of professionalism. There were many other small errors which it wouldn't be fair to include, there has to be a balance. I have only mentioned the real howlers that spoilt the story. Someone somewhere on this movie didn't care and let the team down. Getting the correct information in pre-production wouldn't have been a cost issue to this production, so there you go, only get 6 out of 10 - must try harder!