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Sliding Doors (1998)

Director:
Peter Howitt
COUNTRY
Norway
GENRE
Romance/Comedy
INTERNATIONAL TITLE
Sliding Doors
RUNNING TIME
99 minutes
Producer:
Sydney Pollack
Philippa Braithwaite
Screenwriter:
Peter Howitt


Cast includes:

CHARACTER ACTOR/ACTRESS RATING
Helen Quilley Gwyneth Paltrow
James Hammerton John Hannah
Gerry John Lynch ½
Lydia Jeanne Tripplehorn
Anna Zara Turner
Russell Douglas McFerran
Clive Paul Brightwell
Claudia Nina Young
Mrs. Hammerton Virginia McKenna

 

Review

An awkward, unsexy romance comes seeping up from this pseudo-clever fiddling with existential questions and the power of coincidence and destiny. "What would happen if?" is writer/director Peter Howitt's pressing question as we follow two contrasting timelines in the life of a young PR executive who has just been fired from her job: one in which she misses her train, and one in which she only just catches it. Although this basic premise is fascinating enough (and at first glance seems to be conceived as the non-annoying, serious version of Groundhog Day), it soon becomes clear that Howitt doesn't really have anywhere to go with his film, except down a very well-treaded rom-com road which in this case is populated with characters who are either klutzy, annoying or downright unsympathetic. John Hannah's part as Gwyneth Paltrow's love interest may well have been conceived as a representative for the everyday man, but that's of little use when he becomes so everyday that he's practically impotent. The best part here belongs to Jeannie Tripplehorn, who at least wants to do something with her role.

Copyright © 13.9.2015 Fredrik Gunerius Fevang

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