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Wicker Park
(2004)
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drama / remake / romance
 (imdb rating: 6.6/10)
This is one of the best movies of the 2004
Plot: A young Chicago investment banker (Hartnett) believes a woman he sees in a cafe is his long-lost love. His conviction leads to obsession, as he puts his life on hold to trail her.
I was in the car with Gee-Hsien and The Scientist happened to be on the radio, we talked briefly about the recent Coldplay concert and he told me he loved the song because it was played in the last scene of a small movie called Wicker Park I had heard of this movie, I wasn't really interest, it received little publicity and did quite poorly at the box office. After all, who really wants to go see a romantic thriller nowadays? Josh Hartnett is good but he ain't exactly a-list. As it happens, it turned out to be one of the best movies of 2004 even if I watched it on dvd in Sept 2005, having little expectation and knowledged (or spoiler by the trailers) really helped. Wicker Park is a close adaptation of the French movie L'Appartement (1996) which I have not seen The movie opens with a Maybe Tomorrow by Stereophonics that I've actually heard recently as the end credits song for Crash, relistening it later on I found that the lyrics really said something about the relationships in the movie Diane Kruger was still largely unknown except for her small but important part as Helen of Troy. She'd go on to be Nick Cage's leading lady in National Treasure. Her character Lisa is front and center in this movie, she plays an old flame of Harnett's Matthew (she's not very plausbile as a dancer though). Through clever fade in / fade out flashbacks, we find out that one day Lisa just disappeared and though it's been 2 years, thinking he saw her at a restaurant throws his life upside down. Matthew ends up finding another girl who's name is Lisa as well, but things are so not what they seem I have to admit, I find the way these two characters fall in love totally unrealistic. And yet, the obsession that Matthew develops is the exact opposite. He cannot let go because he never had the closure We find out as the movie progresses that this new Lisa (her name is really Alex) played by Rose Byrne is a manipulating psycho and she knows a lot more about Matthew than she lets on. IMDB says she actually played Pitt's romantic interest in Troy, though she was unrecognizeable here, they really found a way to make her look ugly for Wicker Park (hair, make up) We are to understand the "park" refers to a meeting place Matthew and Lisa used to have in Wicker Park in Chicago. The city actually (or maybe its snow) provides an excellent backdrop to the story Subtle and restrained use of split screen was cool (scene where Matthew follows a man to Lisa's apartment). I was really stoked to recognize the very appropriate Strange and Beautiful by Aqualung All of Alex' subterfuge come crashing in the end in a confrontation as she is uncovered by Matthew for the liar she is. I like how Hartnett plays this scene, it's charged with tension, but he pulls back and makes allusion to her character instead of straight up yelling at her and calling her a psycho Lillard plays Matthew's good buddy straight up for once even if the goofy in him comes out for a moment or two. Jessica Paré has a tiny role as Matthew's fiance Rebecca is better known for me as the "girl next door" in the defunct tv drama Jack and Bobby A random note, I couldn't really tell what Hartnett's character's job was (banker really?), I guess I wasn't paying attention too much I have to check out the great soundtrack that had very fitting, a few of them are exclusives I love the last scene, with Coldplay playing, Lisa and Matthew are reunited at last in a crowded airport with the longest embrace ever, the built up to this scene makes this an awesome movie, it redefines the idea of "star-crossed lovers" Links - http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0002MIBW0/kewlio-20 Last Updated 3/6/2006 1:29:51 PM 1hr 54min / Directed by Paul McGuigan / Starring Josh Hartnett, Rose Byrne, Matthew Lillard, Diane Kruger / Language: English / Watched: DVD Also by Paul McGuigan - filmography (3 movies)
  Also starring Josh Hartnett - filmography (8 movies) 
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