Waste of time

Your blood may run cold, but you now find yourself pinioned to the story.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

Two brothers and their lovers become embroiled in mounting murder plots with a lucrative inheritance on the horizon in this comedy thriller full of twists and turns. To say much more might ruin a fresh experience, but suffice it to say, the film is a surefire testament to the dangers of placing too much trust in another human being. The characters live in a very sad world where they can never really trust one another. On the same account though, they are all so greedy and self-absorbed that it is hard to truly care for them; this is one of those awkward films where it is difficult to find a character to root for. The only ostensibly honorable person is a born again Christian detective played by Roy McKinnon, but the way he weaves spirituality into every conversation actually renders him least likable. Ellen DeGeneres also gets on the nerves as McKinnon's wisecracking partner, but she does admittedly have her amusing moments. By all accounts, this is quite a divisive film with not everyone appreciating what director Roland Joffé has opted for by blending neo-noir thriller elements with lighthearted humour. As one would expect from a Joffé film though, it is a well crafted piece of cinema. John Ottman's music score varies effectively between being enchanting and atmospheric and Dante Spinotti's frequently angular cinematography and mobile camera-work ensures that the film is visually arresting. The twists and turns also happen with enough frequency that the film rarely bores even if it is occasionally hard to care for the despicable characters at hand.

NO,it's not "the killing fields" .It 's a thriller which verges on parody,and the unexpected twists come at such a speed it's not always easy to follow the plot.The cast is perfect :Patricia Arquette is marvelous as a sexy blonde ,who listens to Julie Andrews ("I mistrust people over 10 who still listen to "the sound of music" " says cop Rita);but the stand out is ,IMHO,her colleague ,the cop Ray Mc Kinnon ,and his fortune cookies philosophy ;"His "I arrest you" is priceless and he delivers the last line with such a naivety he almost makes me think of Joe Brown's "nobody's perfect" .Another hilarious scene shows Arquette and Johnson making love in a church to the sound of sacred music and getting an ovation. (for the music ,needless to say)

If you've got nothing better to do one night and manage to catch this little gem on late night TV, then it's worth an hour and a half of your time. A stylishly shot quirky film noir with a plot that twists and turns like a twisty-turny thing. With a sizzling performance by the weird femme fatale Patricia Arquette, and great dialogue from Ellen de Generes as the laconic cop, it's a very entertaining thriller.Be warned if you are a cynic, Citizen Kane it ain't, but if you're a fan of the genre and into the Likes of Last Seduction, Bound, Palmetto etc., this underrated piece of work may just tickle your fancy.

Goodbye Lover is another run of the mill film about lust and betrayal. A man (Don Johnson) sleeps with his brother's wife (Patricia Arquette), and soon the brother (Dermot Mulroney) finds out about it. Soon enough, people are being murdered "accidentally" left right and centre. A detective (Ellen DeGeneres) finds herself enthralled in the case, and soon enough the whole movie falls apart after a could-be intriguing intro.The movie is intensely artificial and beaten to a pulp. Just when you think the movie might end, another lame plot twist is thrown at you, but it's always something which has been done before.I didn't despise this movie. The acting was decent, thought at times a bit corny and fraudulent. As for a fresh and innovative script, you'll have to search for somewhere else.