Wicker Park (2005)

Wicker Park (2005) is an American remake of L’Appartement (1996) starring Vincent Cassel and Monica Bellucci, as well as Romane Bohringer and Jean-Philippe Écoffey (a Swiss actor!). Which I admit I haven’t seen! But I’ve seen critics saying that the original is better and that it’s not worth seeing the remake if you’ve already seen it. I wonder if it’s not a case of American films versus French films! There are those who are bound to prefer one version or the other. Those who love French films are bound to love L’Appartement and those who hate remakes or American films are bound to hate Wicker Park. It’s sad, but it’s as simple as that!

It’s funny, because the protagonists actually go to a restaurant called Bellucci’s in this film! Personally, I was over the moon when I saw the cast: Josh Hartnett (Virgin Suicides, Black Hawk Down, 30 Days of Night, The Faculty, 40 Days and 40 Nights, Pearl Harbor, Halloween H20), Rose Byrne (Adam, 28 Weeks Later, The Place Beyond The Pines, Insidious, Troy), Matthew Lillard (Scream, Thir13en Ghosts, Scooby-Doo 1 & 2, Trouble with the Curve, The Descendants) and, of course, Diane Kruger (In the Fade, Inglourious Basterds, The Operative, The Better Angels, Sky, Joika, Disorder, Inhale). Yes, indeed: that’s a lot of films to watch!!! Two actors, two actresses, four talents that I adore. I’ve seen a lot of criticism of their acting. I don’t think they play badly, I clearly think it’s the characters in the film who are unbearable. Seeing the nuance is a question of sensitivity, even subtlety. In fact, these actors, who are quite good by the way, do what they can to give life to these cardboard characters.

That said, the film is just not good. It’s not bad, but it’s tiring to watch with all its back and forth in time. The ending is predictable and has no surprises. The film’s lack of inspiration is staggering. First of all, think of all the clichés imaginable in romance films: from the reunion at the airport to the mysterious meeting in a shoe shop, we are spared nothing.

Diane Kruger, though excellent, stands out for her uselessness and annoying limpness here. As for Rose Byrne, the film’s real asset, she once again proves her mad talent. Badly coiffed, badly dressed, ugly, she still shines! I have to admit that I’ve never seen her in such a disturbed and unstable role before. This film is slow, ponderous and shows a cruel lack of pace. It takes a long time to get going, takes a long time to set up the situation using flashbacks, which although necessary to understand the events, in their recurrence prove to be a burden that slows down the plot. The dialogue doesn’t help either, as it seems so annoyingly flat. This film was a thriller in name only, and it’s just a 90’s teen bluette, very implausible and long-winded. It lacks suspense and fails to involve you in the story.

A film with great potential, but which fails to deliver on its promises. The story is interesting though. What a shame!