Movie Review Black Los Angeles

BlackNLA Movie Reviews

*****THE REEL DEAL: Reviewz from the Street*****

by Edwardo Jackson

BIASES: Early 30s black male; frustrated screenwriter who favors action, comedy, and glossy, big budget movies over indie flicks, kiddie flicks, and weepy Merchant Ivory fare

PERFECT STRANGER (R)

MOVIE BIASES: We love Halle but in a paycheck role?

MAJOR PLAYERS: Halle Berry (Monster's Ball), Bruce Willis (The Astronaut Farmer), Giovanni Ribisi (Boiler Room), and director James Foley (The Corruptor)

As an investigative reporter writing under a male pseudonym, Rowena Price (Berry) goes undercover as an office temp at ad agency H2A to get dirt on owner Harrison Hill (Willis), an indiscreet womanizer with an "Armani wife," who may or may not have murdered his online mistress, Rowena's childhood friend Grace (Nicki Aycox). Aided and abetted by her frustrated male friend/tech guru Miles (Ribisi), Rowena
delves into the world of online sexploration in order to lure Hill into a compromising position while her offline moves continuously blur her concept of reality and identity.

Despite some howlingly unbelievable touches and one HUGE moment of ridiculousness that crosses into camp, "Perfect Stranger" acquits itself far better than it should. This movie/director takes its job seriously for a paycheck flick, marching forward with a story that seems all-too predictable but emerges to deliver on its P&A promise: you WON'T be able to guess the ending, thanks to Todd Komarnicki's R-rated, pseudo-edgy thriller script. Foley's direction is sexy (and
Halle's wardrobe is TIGHT - literally and figuratively) as is the product placement (Victoria's Secret, take a bow). The set design of H2A's sleek, modern office is fierce. So far, so disposable.

Somehow, it's the actors that rise above an engaging but somewhat preposterous movie (doesn't anyone lock their doors in Foley's New York City???). The always welcome Ribisi is adoringly creepy, unrequited, and full of manic, stuck-in-platonic-friend-hell energy as Ro's "subversive genius" Miles. Clea Lewis' (TV's "Andy Barker, P.I.") motormouth office gossip queen Gina is a sly scene stealer. Aging
gracefully, Willis is violently charismatic and rakishly handsome as the powerful but volatile Harrison Hill. But if you want your heroines FOINE but unbalanced (she's got daddy issues - who doesn't?), then Halle Berry is Central Casting ("Gothika," anyone?). Not much asked of her here - bend over, emote a little, back that thang up to your trailer and polish your Oscar. Good work if you can get it.

Towards the end, "Stranger" tosses all attempts at plausibility out the window, gunning for unmitigated entertainment value - and is the better for it. Who's stalking whom? Who killed Grace? Who is Rowena screwing (over?) now?!? "All it takes to commit a murder are the right ingredients at the right time," waxes philosophic Berry's Rowena Price. The same could be said of a campy, cynical, surprisingly
enjoyable thriller. It's not perfect, but don't be a stranger…

@@@ REELS
(THREE REELS)
It's pretty hot – go give it a shot.

Like what you read? Agree/disagree with The Reel Deal? Think he's talkin' out his...HUSH YO' MOUF! (I'm only talkin' about The Reel Deal!) Email him at EJAce1@gmail.com!

Edwardo Jackson is the author of the novels EVER AFTER and NEVA HAFTA, (Villard/Random House), a writer for UrbanFilmPremiere.com, and an LA-based screenwriter. Visit his website at www.edwardojackson.com




			BlackNLA Movie Reviews ***THE REEL DEAL: Reviewz from the Street*** by Edwardo Jackson BIASES: Early 30s black male; frustrated screenwriter who favors action, comedy, and glossy, big budget movies over indie flicks, kiddie flicks, and weepy Merchant Ivory fare PERFECT STRANGER (R) MOVIE BIASES: We love Halle but in a paycheck role? MAJOR PLAYERS: Halle Berry (Monster's Ball), Bruce Willis (The Astronaut Farmer), Giovanni Ribisi (Boiler Room), and director James Foley (The Corruptor) As an investigative reporter writing under a male pseudonym, Rowena Price (Berry) goes undercover as an office temp at ad agency H2A to get dirt on owner Harrison Hill (Willis), an indiscreet womanizer with an "Armani wife," who may or may not have murdered his online mistress, Rowena's childhood friend Grace (Nicki Aycox). Aided and abetted by her frustrated male friend/tech guru Miles (Ribisi), Rowena delves into the world of online sexploration in order to lure Hill into a compromising position while her offline moves continuously blur her concept of reality and identity. Despite some howlingly unbelievable touches and one HUGE moment of ridiculousness that crosses into camp, "Perfect Stranger" acquits itself far better than it should. This movie/director takes its job seriously for a paycheck flick, marching forward with a story that seems all-too predictable but emerges to deliver on its P&A promise: you WON'T be able to guess the ending, thanks to Todd Komarnicki's R-rated, pseudo-edgy thriller script. Foley's direction is sexy (and Halle's wardrobe is TIGHT - literally and figuratively) as is the product placement (Victoria's Secret, take a bow). The set design of H2A's sleek, modern office is fierce. So far, so disposable. Somehow, it's the actors that rise above an engaging but somewhat preposterous movie (doesn't anyone lock their doors in Foley's New York City???). The always welcome Ribisi is adoringly creepy, unrequited, and full of manic, stuck-in-platonic-friend-hell energy as Ro's "subversive genius" Miles. Clea Lewis' (TV's "Andy Barker, P.I.") motormouth office gossip queen Gina is a sly scene stealer. Aging gracefully, Willis is violently charismatic and rakishly handsome as the powerful but volatile Harrison Hill. But if you want your heroines FOINE but unbalanced (she's got daddy issues - who doesn't?), then Halle Berry is Central Casting ("Gothika," anyone?). Not much asked of her here - bend over, emote a little, back that thang up to your trailer and polish your Oscar. Good work if you can get it. Towards the end, "Stranger" tosses all attempts at plausibility out the window, gunning for unmitigated entertainment value - and is the better for it. Who's stalking whom? Who killed Grace? Who is Rowena screwing (over?) now?!? "All it takes to commit a murder are the right ingredients at the right time," waxes philosophic Berry's Rowena Price. The same could be said of a campy, cynical, surprisingly enjoyable thriller. It's not perfect, but don't be a stranger… @@@ REELS (THREE REELS) It's pretty hot – go give it a shot. Like what you read? Agree/disagree with The Reel Deal? Think he's talkin' out his...HUSH YO' MOUF! (I'm only talkin' about The Reel Deal!) Email him at EJAce1@gmail.com! Edwardo Jackson is the author of the novels EVER AFTER and NEVA HAFTA, (Villard/Random House), a writer for UrbanFilmPremiere.com, and an LA-based screenwriter. Visit his website at www.edwardojackson.com © 2007, Edwardo Jackson