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Derek Malcolm's rating
Living the American dream ain't easy
By
Derek Malcolm
21 Sep 2006
The writer-director husband of Julianne Moore, Bart Freundlich, doesn't do the fine actress many favours with this rom-com.
But she is still the best reason to see this yarn about New York media couples on a slow boat towards failed relationships.
Moore plays Rebecca, an actress at odds with her house husband, Tom (David Duchovny), who wants more sex but is unable to enthuse her with his love-making.
He develops an internet porn habit instead, while her brother (Billy Crudup) won't commit to his girl (Maggie Gyllenhaal) at all.
The film isn't half as sophisticated as it wants us to believe, and it's difficult to identify with any of the principal characters as they progress through life on the edge of what is supposed to be amusing unhappiness.
There are some nice scenes when Duchovny visits an eccentric sex clinic, but you keep on expecting more - and the sentimental final reel will leave you gasping at its sugary inanity.
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Reader views (2)
This film is excellent, incredibly thoughtful and well acted. I liked Julianne Moore a lot, but I think her role in the film was overshadowed by Maggie Gyllenhaal and David Duchovney who was brilliant... I've missed seeing him in films. I'd have liked a bit more action in this film, and the humour could have been less obvious in places, and I liked it a lot.
- Debs, Plaistow, East London, 26/09/2006 16:30
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Maggie Gyllenhaal is superb in this, she's an extremely good actress, one of the best in Hollywood. David Duchovny plays a sex addict who is addicted to porn, and he did the part well, I was quite convinced by him! Billy Crudup over-acted a fair bit in my opinion and Julianne Moore was wasted in her character. I think if Moore and Gyllenhaal had swapped roles it could have been more convincing. I give it 7/10, one to watch, but not something you should rush to see.
- Hetty, Mile End, 22/09/2006 15:23
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