Genres

Visitors Review

2013-05-20 06:33:06

DISAPPOINTING

I am a huge fan of Laura Linney who can light up the screen with just a look. Liam Neeson usually adds a touch of elegance to his roles. And Antonio Banderas makes a great Puss-in-Boots.Alas they can't rescue this truly drab soap opera. Even Lifetime's cookie-cutter TV movies are more involving. Add dull direction and a ridiculous script, you get a sadly disappointing clunker.

2013-05-19 19:19:21

Misleading description on the jacket makes it very frustrating and annoying to sit through!!

Even though I love watching movies, I do not usually write reviews about them, as that task itself could easily consume most of my available free time.Usually I am also quite forgiving about potential weaknesses in lot of the films, as there are always some highlights and redeeming points to be found.However after seeing this irritating, poorly executed attempt at intelligent movie, I felt like warning potential viewers about this so called "thriller" would be appropriate.... So here it goes...The other reviewers pretty much summed up my sentiments:(let me borrow some quotes)Tepid domestic drama with glaring inconsistencies in time and location...Neeson and Linney's considerable talents are totally wasted here...Very slow start, with memory flashes makes this movie dragging and very slow.The script is a total waste. ... I wonder if (the actors) saw the final edit, and what was their opinion....Suffers from terrible editing. It seems to be made up of footage haphazardly collected from the cutting room floor. ...The concept that people are not as they may seem is, in more skillful hands, a wonderful plot twist. Here, however, it was presented in a heavy handed, cartoonish way...This disjointed multiplicity doesn't reflect any intelligent complication of character. No, it's a simple lapse into messiness..And so on...(end of quotes)Yet despite all these major flaws, there still might be a time and place, when I could be in mood for even an insipid story like that... watching Liam Neeson with his impressive screen presence is a treat after all, no matter how bad script he is given.BUT I NEED TO BE WARNED or at least PREPARED for what is ahead.And that's where my major complaint comes from.The blurb on the jacket of the movie is completely misleading and the author of that description either never saw the movie in the first place, or was under some heavy influence, while s/he was watching.Here is what it says:"In this gripping suspense thriller Peter (Liam Neeson) is a man obsessed with uncovering the truth surrounding his wife's disappearance. In a shocking twist of events he discovers a labyrinth of secrets."So I am naturally expecting an adroit, sharply put together drama that skillfully builds up suspense... YEAH, RIGHT!!!First of all, there is NO shocking twist of events, and no clever suspense to be had (see the comments above). But the claim about mysterious disappearance is what really got me... yes, very early into the movie, we watch the wife leaving the door, and that's when we last see her (except the haphazard flash back), so the stage for the suspense is set...SPOILER ALERT!!It's not till about two thirds into the movie, when (in another flashback) we witness the wife actually dying of either cancer or brain tumor, (forgot which, not worth remembering), while the husband sits by her side... Which could be, once again, a shocking twist of events, if the movie is conceived and executed thoughtfully and has some sort of direction or design...In this sloppy, disjointed storytelling disaster, it insults your intelligence, and leaves you with the head shaking in sheer disbelief, not to mention the intense after-taste of annoyance and irritation.

poeticjustin1 2013-05-17 14:11:42

Misleading trailer, meaningless movie

WHY DID I NOT FALL ASLEEP? I was pretty excited when I saw the trailerto this movie. The trailer to this film makes it seem that there may bea degree of action or murder. If I have learned one thing through mymovie career... good trailers can often lead to crap films. There isnot one single moment of action in this film. If you are looking for anaction or suspense movie, this is neither. The writing was notimpressive, and you feel lost throughout most of the film. I am a fanof most of the actors in this movie, but the plot just doesn't lettheir reputations or characteristics shine whatsoever. An epicly Godawful ending. Waste of my time. All I can do is tell you, not a damnthing happens in this movie. It all leads up to nothing.

2013-05-16 20:57:43

Disappointing "Thriller" from the Director of "Notes on a Scandal"

Peter (Liam Neeson) and Lisa (Laura Linney) have been married for more than 25 years. Lisa is a successful shoe designer and they have a daughter Abigail (Romola Garai). One day, however, Peter discovers a message left in his wife's cell phone, and later, many photos in her PC, including ones in which she poses naked. Peter is determined to find "the other man" (Antonio Banderas), the voice on the other side of the phone.The storyline itself is rather conventional, but "The Other Man" is not exactly a thriller or suspense in a traditional sense. The film employs many flashbacks so that audiences are not allowed to know some major important things about the characters until the final chapter. Here detective work means not only finding out who does (or did) what; it is more about who they are, by contrasting several images of them. This is not very surprising as the film is directed by Richard Eyre of "Iris" fame.While the intention is understandable, however, "The Other Man" is a huge disappointment. Flashbacks don't interest us; it only confuses. The events seem to take place in a disjointed order, and some of the actions taken by the main characters are just impossible, as if parodying the rules of the genre the film is based on. (Do you name your file, like, "LOVE"?) Of course, things are explained in the final 20 minutes, but sorry, it just doesn't convince. As a domestic drama, too "The Other Man" lacks logical character development. Liam Neeson's character Peter sometimes looks terribly depressed, then terribly angry and always intense, looking glum and asking for a gun in his office. Richard Eyre did a far better job in "Notes on a Scandal" where characters are certainly tense, but still believable.

2013-05-16 06:57:41

The Other Man obviously wasn't a movie director

Purchased this DVD because I like and respect all the stars in this movie, particularly Laura Linney. The description said it was a suspense thriller. Well, there's no thrill to it, and the only suspense is trying to figure out what the heck is going on. The movie lacks character development, plot development, direction, conflict, suspense, and basically any other feature that is usually included in the worst of cinema. It's as if the movie was sliced up, dropped on the cutting room floor, swept up, and pieced back together without regard to the viewing audience. Don't watch this movie. If you start watching, don't keep watching -- it's not going to get any better.

2013-05-15 18:48:13

nooooo thanks!

Liam Neeson has a well-respected history of never having starred in a bad movie... until this one. Usually he's a brilliant actor who really does a magnificent job with edge of your seat, heart-pumping suspense. However, thanks to an extremely lousy script, the Other Man is totally horrible. I can't believe Liam went along with this hogwash.There is no suspense to speak of- just an extremely slow-moving storyline that never does anything at all. It's especially terrible in the beginning when Liam Neeson spends a considerable amount of time on his computer going over clues pertaining to his wife. I swear the same exact unintereting segments involving his wife in the bedroom with another man repeated twice in a row, almost like a a trick to see if viewers were awake enough to pay attention. I can't honestly recommend anyone watch the Other Man. It should be avoided at ALL costs. Don't worry- Liam Neeson makes up for it with a wonderful catalog of extremely good films. We'll just pretend this one never happened.

2013-05-05 17:05:40

Get Some Other Film

Contrary to the way the disc jacket advertises this film - there is almost no suspense here. So don't get it thinking you'll see anything Hitchcockian, any psychological thriller, or even any pale shadow of suspense. But more than that, "The Other Man" suffers from terrible editing. It seems to be made up of footage haphazardly collected from the cutting room floor. The movie is supposed to be based on a respected novel - but something apparently got lost in translation from one medium to the other. For one thing, you might soon find yourself wondering what Antonio Banderas' character is supposed to be. Is he a gigolo - a janitor - a petty moocher - a hospital orderly - an international sophisticate - or a true romantic? This disjointed multiplicity doesn't reflect any intelligent complication of character. No, it's a simple lapse into messiness. We see Banderas' character flash from one of these personas to the next without any adequate segue.In a director's commentary that is more intelligent and interesting than the film itself, there is still no adequate explanation of these abridgements.Finally, the central performance in this mishmash, Liam Neeson's portrayal of a jealous husband, is emotionally inauthentic. I myself felt like walking out on this character and this film and cheating with some real thriller.

2013-05-05 06:06:16

RUBBISH

Here are six terrific truths about time:Firstly:Nobody can manage time. But you can manage those things that take up your time.Secondly:Time is expensive. As a matter of fact, 80 percent of our day is spent on those things or those people that only bring us two percent of our results.Thirdly:Time is perishable. It cannot be saved for later use.Fourthly:Time is measurable. Everybody has the same amount of time...pauper or king. It is not how much time you have; it is how much you use.Fifthly:Time is irreplaceable. We never make back time once it is gone.Sixthly:Time is a priority. You have enough time for anything in the world, so long as it ranks high enough among your priorities.Lewis TIMBERLAKE

2013-05-04 23:56:23

Not the best

This review is from: The Other Man (DVD) This was okay. If you are a Liam Neeson fan you will like it. I would suggest it if you are a fan.

ivonash 2013-05-04 20:54:54

Good acting but not much happening

I saw the movie at the advice of friends who told me, "It's somewhatstrange but good, you ought to see it." Now that I've seen the movie, I can say that it really is strange andthat it has one good aspect -- the acting of Liam Neeson and AntonioBanderas. The rest of the cast isn't particularly noteworthy. The storyis pretty ordinary--a cheating wife and a clueless husband; she dies,and he decides to seek out his late wife's lover and exact some kind ofrevenge. Finding the lover was anticlimactic as we didn't see a displayof any significant feelings and nothing special followed. There didn'tseem to be any special revenge, either. The whole story seemed somewhatcontrived and pointless, as in awkward and going nowhere.

paul david 2013-05-02 01:37:08

Classy Intrigueing Thriller and a Strange Love Triangle

I always enjoy Liam Neeson movies and this is no exception. There is asimilarity with TAKEN in that Neeson is a pursuer on the Europeancontinent, relentless and determined, although this time, he had thefemale head of security at his work to help him go on the trail ofBanderas in Milan. Terrific shots of Milan especially when Ralph walksacross the Piazza to the Chess Cafe. Don't think the story jumps toomuch or too fast, just enough for us to work things out. The ending gotme stumped though, not sure how a man he was going to kill ended uppushing the hospital bed of the wife and being present at the wake butI liked the creation of the character played by Banderas who we mighthave thought to be a business executive but was in fact a nobodyopportunist. Fascinating analysis of emotion between Peter and Ralph inthe dialogue exchanges. Reminded me of another similar love trianglewhich Neeson-Banderas made a couple of years ago (am I mistaken?) cos Icant remember the title and in a way Neeson kind of played a pursueralso in Five Minutes of Heaven, another glorious film showing Neesonstalents. Must agree with earlier comment that the scene at the officegoing a bit crazy and asking for the gun was overplayed but it didn'tspoil the film. thanks for the comment pointing out some of the filmingwas done in Ely. A very watchable thriller and not at all predictable.Plenty of talking points.

thechrisclarkblog 2013-05-01 12:57:07

A Battle Of The Witless

What do you get when you combine two Oscar nominees, one Golden Globenominee, an up-and-coming young talent, and the director of thebrilliant "Notes on a Scandal"? Apparently, to my intense surprise, youget a lifeless and poorly-crafted thriller...well, a thriller in nameonly, since there are no thrills and no compelling story to speak of.To call it a disappointment would be one of the year's gravestcinematic understatements. "The Other Man" is not merely disappointing;it is rather a travesty, as we are essentially watching three greatactors and one great director flounder in a film that is simply bad injust about every aspect. Starting from the ground floor, the screenplayis spineless and unappealing, attempting to tell a potentiallyintriguing story in a lazy and clumsily-executed way. It rarely callsfor the characters to do anything more than go through the motions andtalk about insignificant things for extended periods. When it unveilsits two big twists, it does so with a fizzle rather than a bang—anarduous, painful fizzle.

caiyunming 2013-05-01 16:10:28

Great acting, thoughtful and unique plot, but...

There've been so many movies about love relationships, good bad andugly. This one certainly is unique in its angle of view on things. Verysmart and intriguing to me. I liked the film! Only thing is that, to methese A list actors don't seem to look the part: the artistic shoedesigner or a software designer... In fact I didn't know what Liam'srole did for living till the very end and being in the silicon valleyfor so many years, I simply wasn't convinced he could be a majorsoftware guy. Maybe like everything else the Brits do thingsdifferently :) And his wife simply isn't artistic enough to be a worldclass shoe lady either. "Zolo" is way way too classy and smooth for ajanitor. With his level of talent, he'd have no problem taking up a VPslot on this side of the Atlantic, so why a janitor in Milan? Is Milanthat good? I really reserve my doubt.The movie could have been a lot more convincing with a different cast.My two cents.

azignon 2013-04-30 23:00:23

The Other Man

Help! Please someone explain what the scene with Banderas pushingsomeone on a stretcher in a Hospital meant. I ran it a few times andthere is definitely someone on the stretcher.In general the film was just okay. There were some lovely scenesbetween Neeson and Linney. And the chess scenes were suspenseful.Neeson and Banderas, my favorite sexy guys are still great looking andfine actors but age is starting to show. And Banderas looked sopetite!! Laura Linney is always delightful. The photography was lovely.As mentioned in previous reviews, the meetings of Neeson and hisdaughter in the streets of Milan seemed very unbelievable.Thanks

2013-04-25 00:38:40

Underrated movie

I'm giving this 5 stars because I feel it was underrated and deserves at least a 4+ star rating. The actng was good, the plot was original, the flashbnacks did annoy you somewhat, but you will see how necesary they are by the end of the movie. I especially liked Liam Neesen in this and Antonio Banderas, who played the part of "the Other Man" to perfection, even if it did seem a little stereotypical. I don't agree that the story unfolded too slowly, not unless you have a really short attention span. It *was* a little jumpy in places, but I think that was to emphasize the husband's desperate state of mind. I wasn't "baffled", as one reviewer said they were, by the twist at the end. On the contrary it made the whole film along with its highly charged emotional atmosphere, make sense. It's worth a viewing for the two top actors' performances alone.

Michael Rooster 2013-04-24 14:39:57

good characters

This movie is certainly worth watching from Netflix instant-play if youare bored. I think it has a lot of praiseworthy qualities too. Thechronology is perfect--there's a reason why for most of the movie youare wonder where Laura Linney disappeared to. Since one of the things Ithink makes a great movie is character development, I was pleased withthe changes Liam Nieson's character experienced: from irrationalrevenge to humble repentant conciliation with his wife's seducer. Acurious line at the end of movie by Liam Nieson, "she certainly knew uswell,' or something like that, goes to show the thoughtful organizationof this movie: did Linney know that her husband's anger would convertto the passion for her memory, regardless of whose memories they were?that he could surmount his instinctual possessiveness of his formerwife? Especially important here is the character comparison betweenNieson and Banderas: one an organized new-money manager friends withBill Gates, and the other a experience-seeking working man who likesnon-committal romance. Both like a good chess game though.

callanvass 2013-04-08 10:34:51

An underrated and chilling movie about the effect's adultery can cause.

The Other Man was a movie that had intrigued me for a while due to itsstory lines, and the two main actors, considering I love both LiamNeeson and Banderas, but I avoided due to the critical reviews I readabout it. Needless to say this is a movie that proves once more, that Itend to enjoy movies that critics seem to tear apart. I was absolutelyfascinated by Liam Neeson's growing obsession of getting revenge onBanderas for having an affair with his widowed wife, it was intense andquite thrilling. But what I loved even more was the face to facesequences that Neeson and Banders had, they were heartfelt andemotional. This movie goes to show us how dangerous and hurtful affairscan be, and how the hurt one receives from it, can lead you into anobsession of darkness.Performances. Liam Neeson is utterly brilliant here. He was a man on amission, and his intense performance had me on the edge of my seat,it's one of my favorite performances of his. Antonio Banderas isequally as good as the slick, yet caring character who wants Neeson'swife's heart, his charisma and charm is hard to beat. Laura Linney isgreat in her screen time as the widowed wife, I felt for her, even ifshe was wrong.Bottom line. The Other Man will stay with you for a while when it's allover. Don't be fooled by the somewhat lowish rating, this is anexcellent movie on all accounts, and I classify it as a must watch!.8 1/2 /10

2013-04-08 05:47:27

Question

Early in the movie before he received the Lake Como note, Peter takes women's clothing and gives them to his daughter along with what appears to be sheets, blankets, etc. Whose clothes does he give his daughter? Are the sheets, etc. from the bed he shared with his wife? I thought when his wife left, Peter and her were still on good terms. LATER: Now having watched the movie through to the end, I withdraw my question. I don't remember ever being this confused about a movie. BTW, poor George ...

ken_bethell 2013-03-25 09:38:39

Thoughtful and provocative

My wife and I must have discussed this film for much longer than ittook to view it and for that alone I am marking it high for surely toprovoke thought and debate is what film making is all about. Whenreading other comments I realised how differently people viewed thismovie. The Director,in my opinion,has been unfairly criticised forclearly many people find the frequent jumping from past to presentconfusing and irritating but without constant reference to past eventsthe plot would have been dull and predictable. The acting, as you wouldexpect from such an ensemble, was excellent as was the photography.While one commentator felt sorrow for the Linney character I feltnothing but contempt which is indicative of the full spectrum ofemotions this film undoubtedly engendered.

2013-03-24 19:30:07

Read the book first

If any of you out there who were disappointed about not seeing a thriller, had read the book first, you would not have complained. The book is not a thriller and it never claimed to be. However, it has many more qualities than your average Hollywood thriller flick. The film is based on a book, whose author coincidentally wrote the Reader (if it rings a bell or matters at all to any of the thrill-seeking viewers). Read first and don't parade your ignorance.