There aren't that many exceptional positives to mention about "Unfaithful." Richard Gere (Edward Sumner) has a few bright moments, but for the remaining parts of the movie, he is his typical, unenergetic self lacking depth and passion. The movie does deliver on its promise to be an "erotic thriller." The love (or would it be more appropriate to say "sex?") scenes between Connie (Diane Lane) and Paul (Olivier Martinez) smolder with sensuality. They are hot and sexy - albeit in a rough and forced way.
The movie, however, fails in that the whole affair between Connie and Paul doesn't make logical sense. We are first introduced to Edward and Connie, married 11 years, and their soon-to-be-9-year-old-son Charlie (Erik Per Sullivan). By all accounts, Edward is portrayed as a loving husband and father, and Connie reciprocates this love. They live the American Dream in a huge house in the suburbs of New York City, so Edward is also a capable provider. There's absolutely no indication of trouble in paradise, but shortly thereafter, Connie is hot and heavy with a complete stranger.
For this to happen outside of any context, the audience is left to believe that an explanation will be revealed at a later time so that we can understand and sympathize with Connie's infidelity. Surely, Edward must be a tyrant, full of verbal, physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual abuse. Does this explanation ever come? It does, but only if you believe that Connie stews with resentment for years after agreeing to move to the suburbs and raise Charlie in a much better environment than the city. It appears that Connie never really wanted to move from the city.
Is that it? There must be more to it than that! This explanation is paper-thin and flimsy at best - certainly not grounds to explore an exciting dalliance. If Connie truly does resent moving to the suburbs (remember, SHE AGREED TO IT!), not only is she unlikable as an adulterer, she is also even more unlikable as a selfish parent. |
