Have no expectations -- Perfect Stranger
MANY LOOSE ENDS: Perfect Stranger
Perfect Stranger
Genre: Drama
Cast: Halle Berry, BruceWillis, Giovanni Ribisi
Director: James Foley
Storyline: An investigative journalist goes undercover to solve the mystery behind her friend's gruesome death.
Bottomline: Convoluted!
If your idea of a murder mystery is to merely keep you guessing, then Perfect Stranger works. But if you also want it to be smart, give this a miss.
The mystery unfolds as a series of afterthoughts, with the screenwriter introducing one twist after another, just to manufacture intrigue. By the time the ends have to be tied up, there's a long list of questions that need answers. And then, there's the task of convincing you about the unlikely killer and justify the revelation with all the decoys thrown around the film.
The result is a convoluted screenplay.
Halle Berry is a firebrand investigative journalist Rowena out to nail Harrison Hill (Bruce Willis), advertising baron, for the murder of her childhood friend. Her partner in crime-solving is the quintessential computer geek who helps her create a fake online personality to lure the accused into a trap. Will he rise to the bait? Given that there are only a handful of characters and one prime suspect, it is easy to rule out who isn't.
When mysteries work
Mysteries work well when they are participative.
A good mystery makes you wonder why you didn't pick up the clues dropped all through the film and the smartness lies in the fact that you were told a few things which you didn't pay attention to. From that point of view, Perfect Stranger does not give you a fair chance of calling its bluff. So are there reasons to watch the movie at all? Yes, of course. If you are fans of Halle Berry or Bruce Willis, you have something to look at.
The actors are terrific in their roles of investigative journalist and prime suspect respectively and it is their chemistry that gives you something to look forward to. But the best actor in the film is Giovanni Ribisi who steals their thunder with his eccentric presence.
Bruce Willis proves once again that he is a legitimate Superstar. He does not have much to do here but then, a Superstar does not need to either. He just has to be in the film and that works.
Watch it with absolutely no expectations, if you must.
R. SUDHISH KAMATH
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Friday Review
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
