Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #44235 in DVD
• Released on: 2000-09-19
• Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 105 minutes

From The New Yorker
The latest who-am-I-really? drama arrives courtesy of French director Alain Berliner ("Ma Vie en Rose") and Ron Bass, who wrote the script ten years ago, when the split-identity crisis may have had a whiff of freshness. Demi Moore plays a woman with two lives, two lovers, and, not surprisingly, two shrinks. In life number one, "Marie" gambols about in floral prints in the South of France and dines in caves with an English writer (Stellan SkarsgÅrd). In life number two, "Marty" is a driven and despairing New York literary agent falling for a mellow accountant (William Fichtner). As Marty/Marie tries to decide which life and lover is the real one, it's pleASINg to discover that, as for many New Yorkers, the secret to her identity lies hidden in the clutter of her apartment. -Michael Agger
Copyright © 2006 The New Yorker

Customer Reviews

Cerebral drama that doesn't deserve all those slaps
This film got spanked righteously in the press and Demi Moore, leading lady, earned a Golden Raspberry (not a compliment) for starring in it.

But was this film as bad as the critics made it out to be? I certainly don't think so. While it is true the dialog was somewhat mundane and the leading men unsexy, the film really seemed to focus on the question of "what is reality?"

The premise of a woman who fragments her personality in her dreams to the point of psychotic delusion is fascinating. Fully functional when awake in either world, at first it is hard to tell which woman, New York Marty or Provence Marie, is the "real" one. But the director carefully controls the colors and temperature of the light. At first, Provence is sunny, warm and misty, New York is blue and cold. Even the skin tones of the actors change with the venue. But as Marty/Marie begins to integrate her personality, the colors shift in the cinematography. Moore is careful not to overact--her Marie or Marty is rather equivocal in her madness or sane-ness. Perhaps the critics wanted more ravings from her.

This is a cerebral film; no mad fugues with wild yelling and screaming and blood and guts. Instead, you have to see if you can psychoanalyse the fragmented mind of Marty/Marie and come up with a plausible explanation. If you get it right, you meet the end of the film with cries of "Ha, I knew it!" If you don't get it right, you get a pleasurable surprise. Either way, a fascinating psychological drama and well worth viewing.

Misguided presentation of an interesting psychodrama
How much one enjoys this film depends greatly on how much of Demi Moore you can stand. If you like long drawn out schmaltzy romances with Demi as the romantic heroine, you will love this film times two. Otherwise, hide any weapons lest you begin attacking your screen.

This film was toasted by the critics, but I didn't think it was that bad. In fact, I liked it. I guess I fall more into the first (sucker for schmaltz) category. The story was criticized as being a contrived version of "Me, Myself and I", where a woman is torn over the choice between life as a professional and the family shtick. That criticism really misses the point. This is a story about a woman's psychological attempt to deal with her traumatic past and has nothing whatever to do with lifestyle choices.

I found this to be an intelligent and complex character study of a woman who seems to be two people living two lives, but really isn't. If that seems cryptic, see the film and it might become clearer. When she goes to sleep from her life with her children in France, she wakes up to her high-powered career in New York and vice versa. She can't determine which is real and which is a fantasy. She has a lover in each life and both seem very real to her. As the story unfolds, she and we try to figure out which is her real life and which is the dream.

The trouble with the presentation is that its real intrigue lies with the psychodrama. Unfortunately, neophyte director Alain Berliner pushed that element to the background and cranked up the schmaltz machine, centering the story on the romances instead. That wouldn't have been so bad if they weren't so interminable. Scene after scene retraced the same romantic theme, until it became frayed.

Other than the misplaced emphasis, the film was well crafted. There were subtle hints throughout about which was the real life, but they were far from obvious tip-offs. However, when we finally discover the truth, it takes forever to wrap up the loose ends. To Berliner's credit, the locations were breathtaking, in both France and New York. It is easy to find beauty in the French countryside, but these were some of the most wonderful film perspectives I have ever seen of New York's skyline and street vistas.

After enjoying a few years as one of the highest paid entertainers on the planet, Demi Moore disappeared for three years. This was probably not the best vehicle for her return. Her performance was strongly emotional but one-dimensional, failing to differentiate the characters sufficiently. She played the high-powered NYC girl to be just as wimpy as the insecure girl in France. To be fair however, she created two very appealing and vulnerable romantic characters and deserved better notices than she received.

William Fichtner was not the greatest choice for her NY love interest. Fichtner is better at abrasive antagonist roles and his attempts at sensitivity came across as far too pathetic. Stellan Skarsgard was much better and made a dashing and attractive romantic figure.

This was a good story that took a sentimental detour under the guidance of an inexperienced director. Still, it was engrossing and even touching at times. I rated it a 7/10. Add a point if you like romantic pieces and subtract at least two if you aren't a Demi Moore fan.

Suprisingly Good
...especially after all the critics totally panned it. I just got around to watching it broadcast on television. I found it well-acted and a refreshing break from mainstream movies these days. Demi Moore displayed some serious acting chops and never overacted her role. William Fitchner was absolutely wonderful in his role, as was Stellan Skaarsgard. This movie was a very different sort of psychological thriller(?). Watch it if you enjoy romance, the French countryside and good rainy day movies. You will not be disappointed.