Alex r
A master class in seduction, an expert has written this script. The plot is give or take with you. If your here to enjoy a movie for its romantic or spicy scenes this movie will delivery above and beyond. If your here for the delima you will be served. If your here for the morality of an affair that's up to audience member to decide. The ending didn't work for me, and i took it at face value. Did i enjoy this movie yes, was the plot great not really. What it does well it does leaps and bounds above its weight class.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
10/31/24
Full Review
Matthew D
“This moment is your life.”
Director Adrian Lyne’s erotic thriller Unfaithful (2002) is a shockingly beautiful and haunting film. Lyne’s direction plays around with the lust and passion in sex, the doubt and fear in suspecting your spouse is cheating, and the guilt of being found out. Lyne’s direction just shows us the desire of making love with someone instead of judging his characters. It’s very interesting to me how ambiguous the ending feels and lets the viewer decide are these lovers doomed? Unfaithful feels like a rare gem of impeccable craftsmanship and artful eroticism. It is a sexy film and dramatically moving.
Screenwriters Alvin Sargent and William Broyles Jr. capture all the doubt and desire of infidelity with an alluring sensuality and consideration for the feelings of all involved in an affair. We get moments with an unsatisfied lonely housewife, disappointed husband, innocent child, and insatiable other man. Author Claude Chabrol’s is fascinating with twists and turns. I’m fascinated at how Lyne’s direction makes romantic moments suddenly feel eerie as you witness a loving relationship fall apart. I love the sheer passion, lustful sex, dark twists, and ambiguous ending. Casting directors Kerry Barden, Billy Hopkins, Suzanne Smith Crowley, and Mark Bennett cast everyone in this from Dewey in Malcolm in the Middle to Junior from The Sopranos.
Diane Lane is wonderful as Unfaithful’s lonely and horny heroine Constance Sumner. Lane is portrayed as heartlessly unfaithful, shamelessly sexual, brazenly lusting for more, and devastated by guilt. Her performance goes from charming to shocking to sorrowful until her final dejection. Richard Gere is interesting and chilling as the forlorn husband Edward Sumner, initially upset and disappointed that his wife is cheating. Gere twisting into rage, then succumbing to acceptance is enthralling to watch. His heartbroken to outraged faces pack a hard punch.
Olivier Martinez is excellent as the openly flirty cheater Paul Martel. He is captivating and heinously horny as the brazen book seller, who steals Constance’s heart. Erik Per Sullivan is funny and quite sad as the son Charlie Sumner, who doesn’t understand why his parents are acting estranged suddenly. Chad Lowe is great as the indignant employee Bill Stone, who happens to see the affair. Dominic Chianese is amusing to see as the private investigator Frank Wilson, who takes no pleasure in reporting the scandal with professional grade photos
Michelle Monaghan gets a quick cameo as the attentive secretary Lindsay, early in her acting career. Kate Burton is entertaining as the gossiping friend Tracy, who is very nosy. Margaret Colin is also amusing as the other wife Sally, who happens to run into Constance. Željko Ivanek does a great job of looking like he knows everything already as Detective Dean. Gary Basaraba is likewise cunning and subtle as Detective Mirojnick.
Editor Anne V. Coates delivers some of the finest editing for any film I have ever seen. From montages of wild sex juxtaposed to pleasant memories of playing with her son, Unfaithful constantly visually reminds the audience of the affair. Her cuts are dreamy and perceptive. Each touch of the skin or gaze into eyes feels meaningful. Cinematographer Peter Biziou shooting each sensual moment in tender close-up shots feels more intimate. I found the wide shots of New York and Biziou’s careful framing of Lane as isolated or boxed in to be fascinating. Lighting from Russ Engels creates killer silhouettes of Gere enshrouded in darkness as the affair consumes his mind.
Composer Jan A. P. Kaczmarek’s beautiful film score is astonishingly romantic. I think all of the melodies are gentle and emotional. Sound designers Paul Massey, Doug Hemphill, Andy Nelson, Anna Behlmer, James Bolt, Alan Rankin, Randy Kelley, Harry Cohen, Wade Wilson, Craig S. Jaeger, Jeffrey Wilhoit, James Moriana, Nerses Gezalyan, Greg Zimmerman, Robert Renga, Craig Heath, Tim Gomillion, Dennis Rogers, Tod A. Maitland, Wylie Stateman, and Gregg Baxter create an overbearing atmosphere of guilt. The rushes of gusts of wind to loud moans or quiet whispers all sound great. Costume designer Ellen Mirojnick crafts sultry gowns, dresses, sweaters, and blouses to ensure Diane Lane looks truly sexy. Makeup artists Joseph A. Campayno and LuAnn Claps go for beautiful aesthetics. Hairstylists Candy L. Walken and Lyndell Quiyou give Lane the waves in her hair.
Overall, I believe Unfaithful is outstanding in its creative filmmaking and strong performances. Adrian Lyne’s fantastic direction is only matched by Anne V. Coates’ all time grand editing choices that show female sexual liberation. Diane Lane delivers her finest dramatic acting in a complex performance as Unfaithful’s femme fatale. Unfaithful is 124 minutes of sexual tension and guilt release.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
10/22/24
Full Review
Tanisha R
This was my second time watching this and my feelings are still the same. I'm not a fan of this movie. Someone tell me, was that a tornado that struck New York that brought the 2 players together? This is when you know that the story is going to be ridiculous and it was. The acting was fine and so was Olivier Martinez but the plot didn't add up. The reason for cheating is implied but not fully explained. The ending is worse than the tornado that only effects 2 people. I thought Freddie Kruger was going to show up at one point. Has potential but it was wasted.
Rated 1.5/5 Stars •
Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars
09/07/24
Full Review
Rebecca B
Richard Gere is one of my favorite actors and he was the wrong choice for this role. I think he is too good looking and too likeable, I can't imagine being married to someone like that and having an affair. There is no basis for the wife's discontent and then an affair. All the actors did a good job and the movie made me sad
Rated 1.5/5 Stars •
Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars
03/01/24
Full Review
Alec B
Far from perfect (Gere's performance is a bit of a drag) but a decidedly better erotic thriller than we typically get. Here Lyne keeps a mundane and less sensational ending that feels more honest than the genre typically allows. Also Diane Lane gives a hell of a performance.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
01/10/24
Full Review
Luis M. D
Despite the movie's description as a thriller, it looks more like an erotic-romantic drama about infidelity. The first part is too slow for being a thriller, and only in the second half suspense appears. But contrary to what the critic's consensus says, I consider the ending quite satisfactory.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
12/18/23
Full Review
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