Powered by Google
Home
New This Week
Listings
8 days
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Art
Astrology
Books
Dance
Food
Hot links
Movies
Music
News + Features
Television
Theater
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Classifieds
Adult
Personals
Adult Personals
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Archives
Work for us
RSS
   

WICKER PARK

BY MARK BAZER

Paul McGuigan’s film is a thriller without many thrills. No crimes, other than perhaps breaking and entering, are committed, and no one is ever in any real danger. The film belongs more to the crazy-person-who-messes-up-the-life-of-the-protagonist genre, and after McGuigan (Gangster No. 1) dispenses with a veneer of high-mindedness, it turns into trashy fun. Josh Hartnett’s Matthew is a Chicago investment banker who skips out of an important business trip when he thinks he’s spotted Lisa (Diane Kruger), the "true love" who left him two years ago without a word. Much of the film is taken up with Matthew’s search for Lisa — indeed, this relentless mission defines the character more than any personality traits. Flashbacks to their relationship, plot misdirection, and some lame Hollywood banter fill the film’s first half before the craziness unravels. Still, Matthew always seems worth caring about, thanks to the unfailingly nice and sincere vibe Hartnett gives off. And you could say that Kruger, who played Helen in Troy, launches a thousand plaintive stares from Hartnett. At the Apple Valley, Entertainment, Holiday, Providence Place 16, Showcase, and Tri-Boro cinemas. (115 minutes)


Issue Date: September 10 - 16, 2004
Back to the Movies table of contents








home | feedback | masthead | about the phoenix | find the phoenix | advertising info | privacy policy | work for us

 © 2000 - 2007 Phoenix Media Communications Group