How strange to almost recommend a movie in which three of the four leads are terrible--or at the very least meager talents terribly miscast. But the brilliantly twisty, multiple-point-of-view, flashback-bending plot of this romantic thriller makes it compelling all the same, despite starring the expressionless Josh Hartnett (Pearl Harbor), the lackluster Diane Kruger (the underwhelming Helen of last summer's Troy) and the too-goofy Matthew Lillard (Shaggy in Scooby-Doo). Hartnett plays a young ad executive who abandons a career-making deal to chase a possible fleeting glimpse of the love of his life, who vanished two years before. But mistaken identity leads to bewildering yet surprisingly simple revelations in which another woman (vulnerably heart-faced Rose Byrne, the movie's saving grace) seems to have taken the girl's place. Director Paul McGuigan (Gangster No. 1) imbues this remake of 1996's L'Appartement with a disorienting style and atmosphere, happily allowing the viewer to jump to wrong conclusions (even the movie's apparent loopholes are not always what they seem). Thus keen and cunning storytelling saves Wicker Park from its often lifeless acting--albeit just barely. A strong optional purchase. [Note: DVD extras include audio commentary by Paul McGuigan and costar Josh Hartnett, 11 deleted scenes (15 min.), a two-minute gag reel, the music video “Against All Odds” by The Postal Service, a photo gallery, a soundtrack spot, and trailers. Bottom line: a decent extras package for a smart, if dumbly acted, film.] (R. Blackwelder)
Wicker Park
MGM, 115 min., PG-13, VHS: $39.99, DVD: $26.98, Dec. 28 Volume 20, Issue 1
Wicker Park
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As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.
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