Directed by:
Jonathan DemmeCinematography:
Tak FujimotoComposer:
Rachel PortmanCast:
Thandiwe Newton, Mark Wahlberg, Tim Robbins, Ted Levine, Sakina Jaffrey, LisaGay Hamilton, Stephen Dillane, Simon Abkarian, Charles Aznavour, Joong-hoon Park (more)Plots(1)
Director Jonathan Demme filters the classic Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant vehicle Charade through the influence of the French New Wave in this stylish romantic thriller. Regina Lambert (Thandie Newton) has been having second thoughts about her marriage to the often enigmatic art dealer Charlie (Stephen Dillane), and decides to take a vacation without him, where she meets Joshua Peters (Mark Wahlberg), a handsome and charming American who seems quite taken with her. When Regina returns home to Paris, she receives the startling news that her husband has been murdered; however, even more disturbing is her discovery that her husband had a secret life which involved several passports under different identities, and a missing six million dollars. Police official Commandant Dominique (Christine Boisson) seems to believe that Regina is somehow involved in the crime, while U.S. embassy representative Mr. Bartholomew (Tim Robbins) breaks the news to Regina that her late husband was actually a secret agent involved in some very shady operations. Three mysterious and dangerous figures who had ties to Charlie -- Emil Zadapec (Ted Levine), Lola Jansco (Lisa Gay Hamilton), and Il-Sang Lee (Joong-Hoon Park) -- also arrive in Paris, convinced that Regina knows where her husband stashed the money and determined to get their hands on it. Meanwhile, as Regina's life becomes increasingly chaotic and dangerous, Joshua arrives in Paris and a romance begins to blossom between them, but while he seems determined to do whatever he can to help her, Regina soon has reason to doubt that Joshua's motives are as pure as they seem. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Reviews (3)
I haven’t seen such a stupidly made film in a long time. It’s proof that even a good director and good actors can appear in a shitty movie of the lowest caliber that doesn’t make any sense.
()
A mismatch of action, romance, and a peculiar atmosphere set in rainy Paris, where you don't know who is good and who is bad, with a disappointing finale – the worst thing the film offers. Not even Thandie Newton's charms can elevate this film to an average B-movie. It's unbelievable how the masterful and imaginative Jonathan Demme (Silence of The Lambs) has declined in productivity, and after more than a decade can descend from a demonically and brilliantly written thriller to a dull and completely unengaging run-of-the-mill film, where the star-studded cast doesn't automatically equal a solid viewing experience. The opening credits are inventive, the music is relatively well chosen, but the rest is not worth talking about.
()
Just about everything about this movie is wrong – starting with the lousy acting performances and ending with similarly lousy directing. The dialogue deserves special mention; you’d have a hard time finding something as dumb and illogical. I couldn’t think of anything nice to say about this piece of crap. To borrow the title of a Metallica song: It’s “Sad but True”.
()