Plot
On the eve of his wedding, a successful writer travels across the country to meet up with ex-lovers in an attempt to make amends for past relationship transgressions.
Release Year: 2013
Rating: 5.5/10 (130 voted)
Director:Daisy von Scherler Mayer
Storyline
Based on his play by the same name, Neil LaBute's script follows a successful writer who, on the eve of his wedding, travels across the country to meet up with ex-lovers in an attempt to make amends for past relationship transgressions. Crisscrossing from Seattle to Boston, he reunites with high school sweetheart Sam, sexually free-spirited Tyler, married college professor Lindsay, his best friend's little sister Reggie, and "the one that got away" Bobbi. A modern-day Candide stumbling through a landscape familiar to most men-messy breakups.
With a cast like this it is amazing that one actor is particularly
strong and that her unique genius stands out from the others. Arguably
the greatest actor working in cinema today, Emily Watson shines as a
super nova when she appears as the "older" woman the young student had
once been involved with. Straight-laced and reserved, Watson sets the
screen on fire with a simmering sexuality much like that she displayed
so brilliantly in Gosford Park. It is subtle and smoldering but one
senses it could explode like napalm at any moment. The young man seems
to be clueless and never realizes what he once had. However, the
audience sees it clearly and it is this part of the film that rivets
attention more than any other. As an actor, Watson is a undeniably a
acting powerhouse and it is her presence in this small film that will
capture the notice of worldwide audiences. While the motion picture is
rather weak and misses the mark it could have easily hit, Emily Watson
knocks it out of the park as usual and the brilliance of her
performance sheds its light on the other cast members, especially
Brody, an actor that hopefully has benefited from working with such an
esteemed and respected genius as Ms. Emily Watson.
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