Conversations with Other Women (2006)

Overrated

From my favorite movies..

A different way of telling a story

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

They very much have a physical attraction for one another, and he loves her, and would go back to her in a heartbeat. She on the other hand does not feel the same way. It would appear she has not truly loved anyone, and although, she most definitely feels something for him, it is not enough to make her change her present way of life. It is the kind of work that you feel you must see again, to help get some of the background story straight. Is what happened, actually what you're thinking happened. These two actors both do a great job in this production, they are a pleasure to watch... the prolonged scene where they're getting undressed to go to bed is especially good. They are both the type you can probably not think of a movie where you didn't somewhat enjoy their performance. Story's don't always have to be complicated, just well written, produced, and performed. Sounds so simple.. then why are they so many more times not as good as this very worthwhile little film. This one is surely going into 'the library' for future viewing.

Watching this movie was like watching two incredibly average films at the same time. The story was predictable while the filming and editing was original but annoying. The chemistry worked but still a bit awkward. It wasn't the worst film ever but I could have found something better to do with my evening, I recommend skipping this one as I actually stopped the film at one point to decide if I should go on... If I wasn't twenty minutes out I would have jumped ship, instead I saw what was the only likely ending, as predictable as the credits themselves. So in the end, find something that does not try so hard with artistic camera work and instead makes us love the characters and the story which I found both lacking.

The film stats as a casual meeting of a man (Aaron Eckhart) and a woman (Helen Bonham Carter) on the wedding banquet in a New York City Hotel. They seem to know each other and used to be close once. Now she is married to a doctor, the cardiologist, and lives in London. He has a steady girlfriend, a "23 on August 12" Broadway Show Dancer. They seem to like each other and flirt innocently while drinking champagne, smoking (she is) and dancing. But gradually, apparently forgotten or hidden very deep inside feelings come back to life so intensely that they might (or not) change a man's and a woman's lives again.This is my kind of film, with only two main characters, with the subtle interaction between them, when we have to rely more on their body languages, their eyes, their facial expressions than to the words that they say to each other. "Conversations with Other Women" is a riveting, bittersweet, honest, and realistic movie about making choices, losses, and regrets. Two people used to be the one world which had split years ago leaving them not just on the different continents but on the different halves of the screen. The film brings to mind Before Sunrise of course but its atmosphere is more sober and melancholic. It is not about possibility of future together, it is all about past. Both actors are excellent. The split screen technique works perfectly for the whole duration of the film. It is a very well made and creative indie picture which I enjoyed watching.

I am not a fan of split screens unless they are used judiciously and sparingly. In this case it is constant and annoying, I am constantly reminded that this is only a movie. I want a movie to be a total immersion experience; as if I am there. This is a movie of conversation and little else, neither of these two are up to the task at hand. Plus it is simply a rehash of cutesy romantic comedy that's been done before...Only much better. I found myself wishing it would hurry up and end as it was painfully apparent how it would end. No surprises here. Now if this was a movie with say, Judy Dench and Anthony Hopkins, then maybe it would be a sure 7 or 8. I feel this was a good case for poor type casting and questionable directing. Some say this is a ground breaking movie of sorts ?? Why I cannot fathom, I found it boring at best.