There are several things that are vital and basic to the importance of a successful film. First is the screenplay. Then acting. Then sets. The further down the list we go, the less important the items are to the success of the movie. But if you screw up too many of the latter items, the earlier ones begin to falter because of them, and this is why CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER WOMEN failed as an entertainment venue.
The screenplay was well done, focusing on two people with no names ("Man" played by Aaron Eckhart and "Woman" by Helena Bonham Carter). They "meet" at a wedding in Los Angeles and sexual sparks begin flying. Man makes several flirting attempts and Woman knocks him down. But Man persists and eventually succeeds in getting to Woman's hotel room. Here we begin to suspect and learn much about this pair. They are not strangers and have a destructive relationship from years before. In the end, Woman must fly back to London in the morning while Man returns to his much younger girlfriend.
The acting of Eckhart and Carter is admirable and their line deliveries are pithy, funny, and often heart-wrenching.
Where we come into problems is on almost every other level of the film. First we have to mention the title of the film, Conversations With Other Women. Titles are important to viewers. They help tie the story being told with what's been advertised. But this title has absolutely nothing to do with the story, as there is only one woman and they do much more than simply converse.
Once we enter the hotel room, the sets become very dark and almost grainy. The sex scene is practically non-existent and very forced.
And finally we have to look at the entire film being done in split screen. The big question is why? Doing art for the sake of art is ridiculous and many viewers may come away feeling as if director Hans Canosa used this medium simply to create "something different." That's bad. Very bad. This may not have been Canosa's intention, but it certainly comes off feeling that way. It added a major distraction to the enjoyment of the film rather than giving it any sense of originality.
The screenplay was well done, focusing on two people with no names ("Man" played by Aaron Eckhart and "Woman" by Helena Bonham Carter). They "meet" at a wedding in Los Angeles and sexual sparks begin flying. Man makes several flirting attempts and Woman knocks him down. But Man persists and eventually succeeds in getting to Woman's hotel room. Here we begin to suspect and learn much about this pair. They are not strangers and have a destructive relationship from years before. In the end, Woman must fly back to London in the morning while Man returns to his much younger girlfriend.
The acting of Eckhart and Carter is admirable and their line deliveries are pithy, funny, and often heart-wrenching.
Where we come into problems is on almost every other level of the film. First we have to mention the title of the film, Conversations With Other Women. Titles are important to viewers. They help tie the story being told with what's been advertised. But this title has absolutely nothing to do with the story, as there is only one woman and they do much more than simply converse.
Once we enter the hotel room, the sets become very dark and almost grainy. The sex scene is practically non-existent and very forced.
And finally we have to look at the entire film being done in split screen. The big question is why? Doing art for the sake of art is ridiculous and many viewers may come away feeling as if director Hans Canosa used this medium simply to create "something different." That's bad. Very bad. This may not have been Canosa's intention, but it certainly comes off feeling that way. It added a major distraction to the enjoyment of the film rather than giving it any sense of originality.