ridiculous rating

if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

I was expecting a much more exciting and original ending, it had a good build up, but left feeling it wasn't much of a thriller in the end. Lena's reaction to the whole situation was typical of a suburban housewife something she claimed she wasn't. You can easily give this one a miss. Watch conjuring 2 for a Great Patrick Wilson performance, he didn't seem a good fit for this role in my opinion.

I only watched this because I think Patrick Wilson is an appealing lead. There is something so All-American about him, yet he plays characters faced with potentially compromising situations.First off, some reviewer from Belgium who hates America (big surprise there)said, "Who cares what politicians do in their personal lives?" Sorry pal, but this guy did not have an affair. He was using prostitutes. That's against the law and he works in the U.S. Attorney's office. Do you understand? The dialog here is excellent. I never expected that in what I thought would be a routine infidelity drama. There is a great speech when the main guy is talking to some college students and he explains that you cannot be anything you want, despite that clichéd speech staple. You can only be what you have the aptitude for.There is another moment of dialog where an FBI agent speaks about guys who cheat on their wives. Nice job. Writing rarely gets enough credit. In this case, the Writer was also the Director and a woman.This picture is set in the South, yet we never hear which state and the main guy is the only one with a strong accent. That was awkward. I'll assume it was Baton Rouge.The acting was outstanding. I have never seen Wilson show that kind of range. The wife character was perfectly cast. She looked like someone who may have been attractive years ago, but was well past her prime.What I got from this story was that men never stop craving young women. Once their wives go past 36, the men start craving younger options. It's just the way things are in a world where we live to such old ages.The sex scenes were more tastefully done than I have ever seen in any such film.Like some other reviewer mentioned, there was a key scene where our protagonist shows his humanity, but still can't stop his need to indulge his addiction. Nicely done. The girl involved flashed a brief and subtle look of disappointment that spoke a thousand words.The picture is a tad slow. That was my only complaint. I gave it a 6 because the plot is not original and the pacing dragged. But it's worth watching for sure.

I don't know if I should chastise Patrick Wilson for starring in two films that are somewhat similar in plot, but dissimilar in tone-in the same year-both films talk about adultery in marriages. The first film is "Home Sweet Hell" ---it follows a furniture seller as he engages in an affair with a junior worker. And how his cold, calculated, homicidal and obsessive wife played by Katherine Heigl resolves it by murdering several members of the gang who uses the said lady to extort money from her partner. While the second is "Zipper", which I am currently going to review-the plot revolves on a successful district attorney as he engages in affairs with different call girls thereby hurting any chances he has of moving up the ladder in his political aspirations. His wife here, played by Lena Headey also takes action for damage control, albeit in a different manner.Sincerely, I don't know which film debuted first and I don't care to know. But at this point, I am going to assume Patrick recognized the error in his ways by featuring in the first film, which even by comedy standards is stupid-and then he decided to use a similar scenario to correct his mistakes. By far, "Zipper" is better than "Home Sweet Hell", but given the end products, I would have liked if "Zipper" had borrowed some elements from "Home Sweet Hell": like an exchange to make one transcend from stupid to tolerable-the other, from a tense dramatic entertaining affair to near perfection.1/8 of this film focuses on sexual rendezvous between the main character and his escorts, but what drives him into such act or motivations are not expanded or expatiated upon. It gives too much room for assumption from the audience. But one of those assumptions would never be based on the fact that there is a lack of sexual intimacy between and his wife. At least, we get to see a sex scene- prior to that; there is a scene where she coerces him into the act, which he refuses. So, based on the absence of no explanation, it leaves a feeling of "effect" and no "cause"- "action", but no "drive". And even in scenes where it seems that there is a hint of "reason" for such deeds through dialogue which gives a hint at the character's back story, which is not shown-the director then quickly moves past this parts and mini-exposure-shy from developing it.There is a particular scene, where the Sam Ellis (Character played by Patrick Wilson) negotiates with a girl to have a sexual romp in his car. This particular moment is ironic because it comes moments after Sam discovers that he is under an investigation from the FBI for patronizing the escort agency-a distressed moment for him. And given the scenario, one would expect "a lesson learnt" or perhaps "change of ways", but still he engages in an intercourse with a character who is supposed to aid him out of his predicament. I laughed during this scene because of its paradox. While I laughed, I suddenly remembered a recent film I saw called (Addicted) starring Sharon Leal. But it also made me understand that the director subtly spotlights on "addiction" as a theme in the film, but never connects it to larger events like "Image" and public perception of a hero. "Because I help people doesn't mean I am better than them": that was my best line in the film and the character's admittance of mistakes which brings me to this because most people have heroes that they look up to-mentors-role models: respected public figures. But the film asks a bold question. Are role models supposed to be demi-gods in the morals department? Are they meant to be mistake-proof or bacchanal repellents? Of course the answer will vary, but if you ask me- I say a definite "No". After all, they are humans-flesh, blood and guts. Personally, I think one of the major successes of the film is that it tries to re-orientate our view of public figures and mentors from a definite white-black stand point to a more flexible tolerance understanding grey one. Here we have a respected public lawyer whom the public are rooting for to attain a higher political office-then he risks squandering his reputation by indulging in endless nights of intercourses. He risks the public's confidence in him and should prep for backlashes and dwindling in support. But one thing I admire about the character, which is quite controversial now that I think about it is that he never for once expresses profound guilt and I admire the way he goes about it with utmost discreetness in the second act of the film.Patrick Wilson is another underrated actor in Hollywood, no doubt. But his performance is a total opposite to the moronic weakling he played in "Zipper". Lena Headey in the role of a wife isn't convincing enough. Her character is an ambitious one, but her posture gives a feeling of the opposite. Tonally, the film is a dark dramatic one with mild doses of tension.

I had this movie sitting in my drive for awhile. I knew about the premise (i.e. some hot shot lawyer who cheats repeatedly on his wife) and I wasn't interest.Well...after seeing it, this is overall a good movie because of the strong performances and some semi-provocative little twists near the end that, although predictable, they show some hard truths about the values of the world we are living and how easy is to disavow our values for things that are in the end meaningless.Despite the numerous sexual encounters of the main character the film is not erotic or sensual but focuses into his fear and his inner struggle with his newly developed passion that might cost him everything, his job, his family.But the world we are living ...it is what it is, and in the end, everyone will play the role that he or she supposed to play...Overall: Check it out.