December 19, 2007

Moderation in all things

Needed to see my favorite actor, Gerard Butler, in something, so pulled out the tape I made of "Shattered" (2007) when it was premiered on TV last September, and watched it again. This is the fifth time. I like it more all the time and I enjoyed it the first time.

It is a study in extremes. The extremes that two of the partners, in marriages so full of secrets and lies that no one is sure what is going on, are willing to put their spouses through.

Since it is estimated that at any one time in this country, 1/3 of couples have one partner cheating, I won't call Neil Randall (Gerard Butler) a slimeball. He is a good-looking opportunist. In every aspect of his life, he seizes the opportunity.
He gets away with it because others let him. His wife, Abby (Maria Bello) doesn't have to put up with him - she could have left after he cheated once before in Denver. His colleague at work could have been more assertive and called Neil for the double-cross.
What Tom (Pierce Brosnan) and Abby cook up to get back at their cheating spouses is extreme to say the least. They are in pain, but to almost kill two people?
I thought about what would happen after the fade at the end of the film. Judy and Tom get back together? I don't think so. Neil stay with Abby even if she decides she wants it? Doubt it. These people have been 'shattered' and will have to start all over. IMHO.

As the release of the DVD will be December 25th, I will be watching the DVD extras over the New Years eve/day period just to see what the director has to say. Hope they did a really good extra's segment.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0489664/



MONSTER IN LAW (2005) is farce, but not done too well. Jane Fonda as the grooms mother-from-Hell is great as usual. Jennifer Lopez tries but some of her scenes just don't come off. And the male lead is just too bland. Why would two dynamic women fight over him?

The scenery is pretty. The dogs are great. But when you would rather watch the dogs and the ocean, you know this movie has problems. I gave it 6/10 at IMDb.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0369735/

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