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SimplyScripts Screenwriting Discussion Board  /  Movie, Television and DVD Reviews  /  Wicker Park
Posted by: lesleyjl21, September 6th, 2004, 11:33pm
I saw this on Saturday and meant to write a review right as I left the theater, but didn't get around to it, so here I go.

"Wicker Park" is the latest release from MGM (USA) starring Josh Hartnett, Diane Kruger, Rose Byrne and Matthew Lillard based on the original French film "L'Appartement".  Though it twists itself up quite a bit between the present day and flashbacks, the premise is basically this:  Josh's character Matthew is an investment banker on the verge of marriage (which he is uneasy about) when in a restaurant he overhears a phone call of the previous love of his life, a dancer named Lisa.  He, of course, becomes smitten all over again with Lisa and has to find out why she left him two years ago without any explanation as to why she was leaving.  Thus begins a whole tangle of events in which he tries to relocate her and ends up by unbelieveable coincidence, finding another "Lisa" instead.  So close is this "Lisa" to the real Lisa (his Lisa), they even have the same shoe size...or so he believes.  It's really a jumble how they put this thing together.

Anyway, the editing I think is really tight.  Spot on.  The opening sequence was original and piqued my interest quite a bit.  A few completely INcredible (and I mean, highly unlikely in real life) and obvious things did occur which seemed "convenient", but for me, they didn't really detract from the enjoyability of the film itself.  The flashbacks can get annoying, I'll say that much.  And it can get hard to follow because the filmmakers like to jump around in time a lot.  But if you're sharp, you'll have no problem.  I liked this actually.  However, I guess I'm a bit biased because Josh Hartnett is a huge, HUGE favorite of mine.  

All in all, it's smart and sexy in the vein of "Cruel Intentions".  That's what I thought of when I saw this.  And it's fun because at the end you really are so completely into the film that you get annoyed things keep "popping up" and happening...which always seems to be the case in twisted love stories...

This one's good for a weekend bargain matinee.  Not too shabby, all things considered.  

I'd say 7 1/2 out of 10.      
Posted by: Impulse, May 30th, 2005, 11:34pm; Reply: 1
The mix of flashbacks and present time scenes confused me for a bit but I got completely wrapped up in the movie. I couldn't help it. I hated the "villian," Alex (or the other Lisa, not Josh Hartnet's Lisa) to the point of nearly throwing my shoe at the screen. But then I felt sorry for her. And the only reason I liked the movie was because I got so emotionally wrapped up in it. I'm not a fan of movies where the lovers always pass by eachother (like 2001's Serendipity for example.) The twists and the uncovering of what really happened between Lisa and Matthew occurred quite nicely and you felt satisfied at the end. That's all I ask for in a film. Bravo.
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