On DVD (2006), 120 minutes, Rated R.
Wanting so badly to make statements on the complex nature of male-female relationships, forgiveness, and redemption, Breaking and Entering ultimately feels like one long apologetic from Jude Law for cheating on Sienna Miller. Jude plays Will Francis, long-time (10-year) boyfriend of Liv (Robin Wright Penn) and surrogate father to Liv's troubled daughter from a previous relationship. Will would like to marry, but Liv can't let him in. Meanwhile, the downtown London architecture firm Francis is partner in is repeatedly burglarized by local youths. He hides and chases one home one night to his mother (Juliette Binoche), a seamstress. Smitten, he starts bringing her pants to hem, then begins a liaison with her. Her son ultimately recognizes Will from pictures in Jude's laptop, which he still has from the robbery, and outs him to mom.
Relationships, of course, are tricky, but there's nothing that strikes true in this film. Will's actions are, well, creepy and non-sensical. And where is the woman that refuse to marry Jude Law after ten years (but want to stay in the relationship, mind you) when he's successful, loving, and caring towards her troubled child? And when is cheating okay, anyway? Leave. You're not married. In the end, the relationships all seem hollow and unreal-- making any solutions they pretend to point to the same. C-
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Breaking and Entering - C-
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3 comments:
Jude Law is forever cursed for cheating on SM. Surprising to see an Anthony Minghella (director of The English Patient, The Talented Mr. Ripley (C-), and Cold Mountain) film be so dreadful.
You left a pants/hemming/cheating joke on the table, Priest.
Great last sentence that sums up the entire 2 hours. The gist of the movie - comparing physical robbery with emotional or spiritual robbery - is absurd. It's yet another movie where I disliked every character save for Law's partner, played by a bearded Martin Freeman ("Tim" from UK's The Office). It's great to see him again, and not in a movie co-starring Robin Williams and fake babies that micturate in his face.
lawyer, i wrote the joke and erased it.
doc, i almost mentioned martin freeman as the lone highlight. he is great and his love for the cleaning lady is a bit endearing, even if it plays out, ultimately, in an unbelievable fashion.
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