Attraction

I really was overwhelmed by the greatness of this film. The title seemed too philosophical for me, but in the end it proved right,so now I'm Jason Clarke's fan (wasn't before). This film made me sit for a long time and think hard about my relationships and how I react to my mother and my dear ones. After watching The Human Contract I truly realized that our tears should be shed for other human beings not for things in this material world.I love Jada Pinkett Smith and Paz Vega, and, of course, Idris Elba. I've always thought that Spanish actress Paz Vega is much better than Penelope Cruz, but she hadn't had the same opportunities. In the film The Human Contract she surpasses herself and gives us the portrait of a suffering woman, who lives her life only to try to do what is "decent" and appropriate for her, disregarding the criticizing society.

Do you understand Quantum Mechanics?

Do you understand the Big Bang Theory?

Do you understand Nano Technology?

If so, you will still NEVER understand why Michael (Paz Vega, hot model) would EVER talk to or even look at the douche-bag Julian. EVER. He is such a jerk & slim ball he is under anyone's radar on human interaction. Where are serial killers when you need them to dispatch of this dirt bag. Julian has no human characteristic whatsoever that you would want to interact with him on any level. Cleaning dirt from under your toe nails would be much more entertaining.

Writer hint for next movie: Don't create a character that has absolutely no screen charm whatsoever. Avoid total selfish characters with boring attributes.

See Julian suffer. See Julian pine for a girl in a one night fling. See Julian hit a guy. See Julian hit a woman. See Julian as a total dip stick. (other words prohibited)

GUIDE TO MOVIE:

Get remote. Check batteries. Watch Paz Vega. Fast forward 30X to next Paz Vega scene. Watch Paz. REPEAT till end of movie.

Julian Wright (Jason Clarke) is a successful, if overworked, marketing specialist, who is unable to cope with several events from his past. Emotionally distanced he lost his wife to his friend and is currently contemplating signing the divorce papers. With his love life in tatters he focuses entirely on his job with a big pay rise and new office on the horizon. That is until he meets Michael (Paz Vega), a sexually charged immigrant with an overdose of charm and chaos (like Amelia on crack). Almost an erotic thriller, much in the vein of "9 and 1/2 Weeks", although with the slight twist that Paz takes on the role of Mickey Rourke.

I seldom tend to gift a movie more than it's general rating on IMDb, but I for one am completely sold by a very witty, well developed script with fairly deep underlying psychological commentary. I do understand some of the issues with the movie. First of them would be the main characters. Both Julian and Michael (however much eye-candy she may be) are severely unlikeable leads, but given that both have deep emotional issues I find their dysfunctionality rather appealing and warranted. This may cause a lot of negativity towards the movie due to the inability to form a connection between the viewer and the characters, but once you gloss over this and delve into the story it can be quite rewarding. The relationship between Michael and his family, friends as well as Paz is thoroughly believable, even if we fail to grow warm to them.

"The Human Contract" probably should have also had more focus around the main issue of contention: Michael. The addition of the family context was well warranted, if unevenly scripted, especially in the final act, where the movie does unforgivably falter and the resolution is appallingly done (acted, scripted and directed). Almost as if Jada Pinkett Smith had no idea how to finish the movie off nicely and concocted up a poor filler in which neither she not any of her crew had any faith in. Hence the unfitting hack-job to cap off some really inspirational filmmaking. Also some of the characters and situations seem superfluous and detrimental. In regards to this one big irk is the lack of resolution to Julian's marketing contract, which seems like a key part of the movie, but fails to be closed (it suddenly and inexcusably drops out of the story) by the end credits.

Nonetheless the dialogue is crisp and cerebral, while the direction is assured. All in all some very important elements for great filmmaking, but just needs to work a bit on some of the rough spots in the movie.

For those interested the movie does offer some great erotic scenes with real tension and memorable build-up - something that I haven't seen in cinema for quite some time.

I didn't really know what to make of this film. It's like one story ends and another one begins, as though the handling of the story/script wasn't given discipline. It's hard to believe this type of story was written by Jada Pinkett, a really good black actress, I admired for years. Clarke's performance, with his flawless yank accent is the only reason to watch this, though the story does get you in, because you wanna see, where it's gonna go. There is a little sex, yes, some nice shots of lingerie thanks to Paz, but I had myself asking "Where is the story going". I actually thought the successful average looking, if dull, Julian (Clarke) with everything ahead of him was being set up by Vega, like in the car with the menois de trois, where the other chick was filming him, where he then bailed, where she was gonna slowly destroy and take over his business, being an old flame and that. I was way off. I should of stayed with my first impression-Vega was just one of those chicks (suicidal), void of restraint for living life on the wild side. Joanna Cassidy, popping up in this as Clarke's messed up mother, added good support. Too, I did like Clarke's short fuse, his anger problems, where between the possibility of facing a prison sentence or losing his job, had him walking a tightrope. All in all, The Human Contract isn't bad, all flaws aside. In the end, yeah, check out how it ends, it's just a time passer, but involving at the time.

I know no one will probably read this comment, but I had to take the time to write a comment. I truly admire Jada for wanting to do her thing, but this movie was not it. My husband and I watched this movie and are still left with trying to figure out what the heck she was trying to go with this movie. Yes it was dark, but dark with too much contrast and not enough to balance it out. All we got was dark very very little explanation of why the characters TRULY were the way they were. We all have secrets and locked closets, but to tell a story and not delve more into the psyche of the characters is irresponsible. The best books are written with the intent for us to relate to the character(s). Every movie starts as a book and this was not a good one. I feel as if the characters were developed more it could have and would have been a much better story. I still don't get Jada's part in the movie. An undeveloped story gives you unnecessary characters. I expected more from Jada because she has a lot of talent. This movie just didn't show it.