Wicker Park
Movie Review
David Styburski
Issue date: 9/10/04 Section: The Edge
- Page 1 of 1
Grade: C
It is abundantly clear in Paul McGuigan's "Wicker Park" that Josh Harnett was trying to shake off his teeny-bopper following by taking on the lead role in the film. Matthew, (Harnett) is a young stock broker who, in the wake of rising business success and promise of marriage to his current girlfriend, turns into a borderline stalker when he overhears what he believes to be his long, lost love talking in a phone booth.
Hartnett's grown-up clothes and better-developed angst were more than enough to turn off female teenagers, but the non-linear mess of a plot strung together by unbelievable coincidences seemed to turn off the rest of the demographic, as well.
Viewers are not allowed to identify with the main characters sufficiently enough to endure the flashbacks, flash-forwards and flash-sideways that would annoy and bewilder someone with the calmest of nerves.
Matthew dumps his job responsibilities and pretty fiancée to stalk people, break into their apartments and sleep with strangers. If he is so in love with Lisa (his long, lost soul mate) then why is he stumbling into bed with Alex (Rose Byrne), a strange woman who is clearly unhinged?
Diane Kruger, who starred as a tragic beauty in the summer bomb "Troy," is just as unconvincing in "Park" and proves that she is neither loveable enough to start a war or compel someone to give up a six-figure salary and business trips to China. Krueger is a beauty trying to prove herself as more than just a pretty face but the outcome is tragic.
What is more aggravating about this remake of the 1996 French film "Le Apartment" is that it is so predictable from the very beginning.
Audience members find themselves praying for the ending so that they can finally confirm the cheesy culmination that they had predicted five minutes into the film.
Among the saving graces of the film is the surprisingly flawless performance given by Matthew Lillard as Hartnett's best friend. Who knew that he could thrive in a role other then Scooby Doo's bosom buddy? The cinematography and wardrobe department are the redeeming qualities in the film. The city of Chicago was cast in a romantic and vivid light and each actor's wardrobe was perfectly selected to portray each character. It's just too bad the rest of the film is so poor. Better luck next time, Josh.
It is abundantly clear in Paul McGuigan's "Wicker Park" that Josh Harnett was trying to shake off his teeny-bopper following by taking on the lead role in the film. Matthew, (Harnett) is a young stock broker who, in the wake of rising business success and promise of marriage to his current girlfriend, turns into a borderline stalker when he overhears what he believes to be his long, lost love talking in a phone booth.
Hartnett's grown-up clothes and better-developed angst were more than enough to turn off female teenagers, but the non-linear mess of a plot strung together by unbelievable coincidences seemed to turn off the rest of the demographic, as well.
Viewers are not allowed to identify with the main characters sufficiently enough to endure the flashbacks, flash-forwards and flash-sideways that would annoy and bewilder someone with the calmest of nerves.
Matthew dumps his job responsibilities and pretty fiancée to stalk people, break into their apartments and sleep with strangers. If he is so in love with Lisa (his long, lost soul mate) then why is he stumbling into bed with Alex (Rose Byrne), a strange woman who is clearly unhinged?
Diane Kruger, who starred as a tragic beauty in the summer bomb "Troy," is just as unconvincing in "Park" and proves that she is neither loveable enough to start a war or compel someone to give up a six-figure salary and business trips to China. Krueger is a beauty trying to prove herself as more than just a pretty face but the outcome is tragic.
What is more aggravating about this remake of the 1996 French film "Le Apartment" is that it is so predictable from the very beginning.
Audience members find themselves praying for the ending so that they can finally confirm the cheesy culmination that they had predicted five minutes into the film.
Among the saving graces of the film is the surprisingly flawless performance given by Matthew Lillard as Hartnett's best friend. Who knew that he could thrive in a role other then Scooby Doo's bosom buddy? The cinematography and wardrobe department are the redeeming qualities in the film. The city of Chicago was cast in a romantic and vivid light and each actor's wardrobe was perfectly selected to portray each character. It's just too bad the rest of the film is so poor. Better luck next time, Josh.
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dstyb
dstyb
posted 9/10/04 @ 9:51 PM CST
Amy Stevens wrote this. Not me.
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