Sometimes you have to look deeper
Gary Anderson | Spokane Washington | 11/05/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"First of all I'm surprised this went to Blu. I remember seeing this in the theater when it first came out and instantly liked it. Going in though, you have to be aware that this is a 100% dialogue driven film. There's no action really, there's only three actors in the movie (well five, if you count the two in the very beginning for about two minutes). If you go into this expecting anything but essentially a theatrical play, then you may be disappointed.
Personally I think this is one of Robert Downey Jr's best roles to date, along with Less than Zero. I think roles like this, in which he shines so well as the perennial f*** up, doomed by his own inabilities to accept the fact that there are people who will not just abandon him at the slightest whim, hits too close to home for many people. They can't separate the fact that he's acting, from his real life struggles with drug addiction and other things.
And as such, when he puts on a great performance, people toss it aside and say "it's just him playing himself". Which is a great disservice, I think.
Heather Graham is very good in this, as is Natasha Gregson-Wagner (daughter of Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood), although Wagner can be EXTREMELY grating after awhile. She comes off as simultaneously cute & sexy, and irritating. Eventually you're waiting for someone to just yell at her to shut up.
But all three actors do a very good job with this, and from what I've read there was virtually no script. It was all improv, and I think that speaks volumes to how good these actors are.
I've read reviews of this which say that it's a movie where people just talk about nothing. And that's not true at all. It couldn't be farther from the truth. This film, while not a perfect film, is a great film as it pertains to relationships. I think many people watching can relate to this predicament that Downey Jr. finds himself in.
Perhaps not the exact situation, but we've all lied to significant others. We've all been involved with people and perhaps you don't feel exactly the same as they do, but you lie and say you do. If only to make them feel better. But that ends up hurting them anyway when they find out.
Here we have Downey Jr. who's dating two women simultaneously, all the while telling them that he loves them, and only them. Neither have any clue that he's doing this with someone else other than just them, thinking he's a one woman man.
Very good film, and one definitely not to be missed by fans of Downey Jr. Just know what you're getting into with this. It's not a big budget fancy special effects flick, and it's not an erotic threeway Cinemax flick, despite the provocative title."
Shot in a few days. A great movie!
L. Chun | Bay Area, CA USA | 10/19/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"One of the better movies by Robert Downey Jr. This is a GEM! I'm so excited they're finally bringing this to Blu Ray. We need more movies with people talking--hopefully in an intelligent manner--and less movies with loud sound, outrageous chases and mindless car crashes. Mr. Downey's performance is simply wonderful in this movie. Generally speaking, I am not a fan of Robert Donwey Jr., but in this movie, he wonderfully plays this two-timing character. Just watch him lie and try to weasel his way out of his self induced predicament. I absolutely love this film. Wish Hollywood would make more movies like this. More cerebral, less mindless action."