Wicker Park

I decided to take the time on my break between classes to watch a movie, since I didn't want to spend the entire day stressing. Anyhow, I wasn't expecting much from this one, since it starred Josh Hartnett. Fortunately, though, it exceeded my expectations. There's nothing really outstanding about this film, but it manages to entertain nonetheless. Even though the plot and execution are something of a clichee, its done expertly and its tough not to enjoy watching all of the pieces fall together. Some critics had nice things to say about Hartnett's performance, but I found him to be pretty wooden and downright laughable in the more emotional scenes. Byrne is quite good as the lovestruck manipulator and Lillard, as always, is great - it's just too bad we never get to see more of a range from him. Overall, this one works well for entertainment, but not much more. My grade: B-

Avg. Critic's Score: 4.3 (via Rotten Tomatoes)
Avg. Viewer's Score: 6.6 (via Imdb)

Synopsis: A young Chicago advertizing executive believes a woman he sees in a cafe is his long-lost love. His conviction leads to obsession, as he puts his life on hold to trail her. (via Imdb)

Director: Paul McGuigan (Gangster No. 1)
Writer: Brandon Boyce (Apt Pupil) based on the film L'Appartement written by Gilles Mimouni
Stars: Josh Hartnett (Black Hawk Down), Diane Kruger (Troy), Rose Byrne (Troy), Matthew Lillard (Hackers), Jessica Pare (Lost and Delirious)

Useless Trivia: The restaurant where Matthew overhears Lisa talking on the telephone is called "Bellucci's". Monica Bellucci was the female lead in the French original L'Appartement, of which this film is a remake.