| In The Other Man, Liam Neeson lends his volcanic authority to an elegant psychological thriller. When Peter (Neeson) discovers evidence of an affair on his wife's laptop, he tracks down the other man (Antonio Banderas) in Milan and stalks him. But though there are taut moments of suspense, the movie's emphasis is on watching Peter's mind unravel and seeing the damage this does to his daughter Abigail (Romola Garai, I Capture the Castle, perfectly cast as the child of Neeson and Laura Linney, who plays the wife). The movie suffers from some confusing editing and a few implausibilities, but the main reason it languishes in obscurity is that it defies the usual expectations of a thriller--which is the main reason it's worth seeing. Banderas turns out to have secrets of his own, and the conclusion takes a surprising (and delicately moving) turn. If director Richard Eyre (Notes on a Scandal) had had a slightly firmer grasp on the story line, this could have been a fascinating case study; as it is, it's intriguing but fails to fully satisfy. Neeson is, as ever, compelling--he's able to turn from understated obsession to ferocious outburst in a heartbeat. --Bret Fetzer |
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 THERE IS 'ONE' SCENE MISSING OUT OF THE MOVIE |
| Review Date: March 5, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Margaret Opine, |
I'll admit that i had to do a double-take too; there is "one" scene missing from the movie and that is something to tell us that we are going back in time. see the scene when peter stands over her and holds her breasts, sexy-like, cupped with both hands from behind her and he says, "what's wrong?"; I'm left with the question: which was it, something was wrong because she knew she had had the affair or that she knew she had breast cancer? and, i don't know when she knew she had a health problem--did she know on the day she met the other man with her red shoes on?
SHE DID TRY TO ELUDE HIM BUT HE OFFERED FUN AND CARE-FREE-NESS.
so, there are questions about this one scene missing from this 'real-life' drama, including the fact that she was a young woman, but that doesn't mean the "experience" the movie delivers was not a good one. the whole movie was about a man finding out that his wife was not what he thought she was but then in the end somehow peter is trying to tell us something about forgiveness and going on and accepting life as it is ...but still with the question; why did she want my "lesser" over me, or, like he asked, "why did she roll in lust with him for a day but not with me, what does this all mean?'
well, she was a travelling 'salesman' and it happens. she totally redeems herself with me, because i was so angry at her kind of woman for doing what she did to a good man..., but i know what it is like to be a young woman in her position, but she totally redeems herself with me because she returned to her marriage. she returned to her husband the real man. she felt sorry for the other man; he had time to play in bed, and all that jazz; but these two married people were employers with other people's lives as their responsibilitity; they could not afford to go chasing turtles.
Lisa stopped her 'real' life to go play with a 'nome'...but she acted responsibly and returned to her life and told him not to call. i feel that redeems her and i liked peter's revenge and i liked peter's choice to not act like a real fool and kill him as if this 'nome' was his real competition. i loved peter at the end but i would not marry peter because he is totally carrying a torch i think, for the rest of his days. but there are graceful women out there who can make life beautiful for him faithfully.
BUT WAIT....that redemption i gave lisa has just caved. why on earth did she find it necessary to tell peter during her dying days about the other man? why.....? why would anyone be so cruel? what is there to gain? ---------i felt this was one of the best movies ever! margaret |
A Superb, Subtle Thriller
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| Review Date: April 4, 2010 |
| Reviewer: RareRare, |
It seems that for most of the "critics" on this film need to be hammered over the head by writing and direction before they can appreciate a movie. The nay-sayers of "The Other Man" must have all the Texas Chainsaw Massacre movies in their very limited collection.
The above is to preface my amazement and gratitude to all those involved in the making of this marvelous work. The performances of all involved are riveting and the atmosphere of Milan and the English countryside hold the viewer's interest in this complex story of revenge, betrayal, lies and finally real love.
I won't give anything away, but, if you liked "Vertigo", you will be quickly drawn into this provocative study of loss and redemption.
Enough said! |
Suspense Askew
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| Review Date: December 13, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Grady Harp, Los Angeles, CA United States |
THE OTHER MAN is a thinking person's film, a film well cast, finely acted, and well written by writer/director Richard Eyre based on a short story by master storyteller Bernhard Schlink ('The Reader', 'Flights of Love' - collection of short stories from which this story is excerpted, etc). If some viewers find the film confusing or too subtle in the unraveling of a fascinating tale, the problem is that the cast and director and writers demand more of the viewer's attention than in the usual movie fare. A suspense film should keep the viewer in the dark, or thinking in one direction, until a little twist changes the story that has been unfolding on a different level. That is what THE OTHER MAN does and it is a pleasure to be surprised in this way.
Peter (Liam Neeson) is a successful business man whose wife Lisa (Laura Linney) is a successful and high profile shoe designer. He spends much of his life in her shadow but the marriage works for them both and they obviously love each other and their young rambunctious daughter Abigail (Romola Garai) who is attached to the somewhat hippie, strange George (Craig Parkinson). Lisa's office comrades - Ralph (Patterson Joseph) and Vera (Pam Ferris) - are supportive of both Peter and Lisa and the world seems balanced. Very early in the film Lisa departs for Milan for another showing of her shoes, but she doesn't return. Peter grows suspicious when he discovers insinuating email messages from a man named Ralph, and once he discovers this Ralph is not her office comrade, he sets out on a mission to find the source of his wife' surprise infidelity. He discovers pictures taken in a special hotel in Milan, pictures that reveal photos of 'Ralph' (Antonio Banderas) in intimate situations with Lisa. Peter travels to Milan with the intent to kill Ralph, stalks him, and discovers his pastime of playing chess in a little Milanese café. And this is where Schlink and Eyre change the twist of the story, and Ralph is not at all whom he appears to be, nor is the direction of Peter's vengeance as focused as we expected. It is this crucial turn of storyline that make this film so endearing and to suggest, even slightly, the final moments of this film would destroy the suspense so well written and directed and acted.
Neeson, Linney, Banderas, and Garai are all splendid in these difficult roles - Linney continues to mature as an actress while becoming ever more beautiful in countenance. This is a tightly drawn suspense tale and well worth the attention of the public unafraid to think along with the development of the story. Grady Harp, December 09 |
Rich with feeling
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| Review Date: February 23, 2010 |
| Reviewer: M.N., MANSFIELD, OH |
| I found this movie to be rich with emotion. I agree that it was not really a suspense thriller, but I rate it high because it took me on a journey and I felt what Liam's character felt. Without his considerable skills as an actor, this movie would likely have been difficult to finish. When his wife disappears early in the movie I really thought I missed something and actually backed the movie up for a second look. This transition could have been smoother, but I do think the movie needed the mystery for the minimalistic story to remain interesting. As for the ending, others have said it was poorly done, but I disagree. Liam's character has learned about the complexity of human beings and relationships and has come to appreciate his wife as she was, even though she hurt him. I felt so much during this movie that I recommend it to people who have an open mind to exploring the intricacies of the human heart. |
Pleasantly surprised
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| Review Date: May 16, 2010 |
| Reviewer: J. Gosewisch, San Diego, CA |
| Being a huge Laura Linney fan and never having seen this film in the theatre, I decided I needed to own "The Other Man". I didn't know what to expect but with stars like Linney, Neeson and Bondaris I was sure it was going to be great. What I found was a film with nuanced performances and an unpredictable story line. It is a tale of deceit, love, revenge and forgiveness. The story unwinds slowly and has surprising twists, however, I found the ending somewhat trite, thus only four stars. |
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