Derailed
By: Lindsay Bianchi | Category: On DVD | 03/19/06 | 06:51 PM
 |  |  Grade: B- | Genre: Thriller
Summary: Don't expect much from the new thriller, Derailed starring Clive Owen and Jennifer Aniston and you may find yourself somewhat entertained. Like a good beach read, this fatal distraction takes moviegoers on a plausibly scary ride down a dark alley of deceit and violence.
Charles (Owen) meets Lucinda (Aniston) on his morning commute to the windy city when he finds himself cash poor on the train and she casually offers to pay his way. A polite conversation soon turns to flirtation and the inevitable clandestine hotel routine. Charles should know better since he has a lovely wife and a diabetic daughter, but he's a man in the most basic sense, and thus, cannot help himself. Jennifer plays coy, but suddenly turns hot and heavy even though she has her rich husband and daughter to think about. |
Everything seems to be going along swell until some creepy guy (Vincent Cassel) bursts into their room; pistol whips Charles and rapes Lucinda before robbing them. Eventually, Charles wakes up from his floor nap to find Lucinda sitting glumly (understandably) on the edge of the bed. They slink out Tryst Towers and attempt to go back to their lives. Unfortunately, their troubles are only beginning. The creepy guy, Laroche (think French insect) begins blackmail proceedings on Charles, who stupidly plays along in order to keep his marriage intact.
Yes, we've seen this kind of thing before with juicier results. Think of Fatal Attraction or the cult classic Detour and you have some idea of where this picture gets its guts. However, it is still fun to watch Clive Owen squirm and fidget his way through the story. Jennifer Aniston does her best to keep up with him, but she really doesn't have enough screen presence to do much but be Jennifer Aniston. Thankfully, the plot is interesting enough to make up for the slow burn performances it contains.
 | | | Derailed | | Starring: Clive Owen, Jennifer Aniston, Melissa George, Vincent Cassel & Robert 'The RZA' Diggs | | Director: Michael Hafstrom |
| | View the Trailer (Quicktime) |
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Xzibit makes his screen debut as LaRoche's toady, Dexter, in a performance that requires thug-like behavior and the ability to wave a big gun around. It's not exactly Ludicris in this year's excellent Crash, but it's a start. As for the other bad guy, Vincent Cassel does a superb job making audiences nervous with his every remark and threatening movement. His LaRoche approaches the disturbing mentality of such classic sociopaths as Dirty Harry's Scorpio.
RZA also makes his film debut as Winston, the friendly mailroom guy, who tries to help Owen out of his predicament. It's a solid performance that should lead to better roles in the future.
All in all, there isn't much here that hasn't been done before. The scene in which Charles comes home to find LaRoche chatting away with his unsuspecting wife in their cozy living room is straight out of Fatal Attraction. There is also the scene in which Charles must tell Deanna (Melissa George) about his big boo boo. It doesn't come close to the mess that Michael Douglas faced, but then again, this is a different family with a slightly different problem.
There are a few surprises along the way that make the movie click, but they are better left to reveal themselves since they are the best thing this contemporary noir has to offer. It's not that the acting is bad in general, it just isn't anything very special. Clive Owen has never been one for spastic facial expressions, preferring instead to play it cool like a latter day Clint Eastwood. Just watch his turn in Croupier if you don't believe me.
As for Jennifer...well, she has a huge obstacle to overcome after playing Rachel on the ever-popular Friends for the last 300 years. If she wants to do serious roles, I think she would be better off choosing something like a remake of The Burning Bed. Here she merely shows off her gums and bats her eyelashes while she does that odd dimply thing with her mouth. There isn't much to say about her role except, "Yep, that's Jennifer Aniston."
Cassel steals the show with his malicious leering and utter disregard for the world's problems. He's the kind of villain you love to hate...and that's the best kind. Derailed is like one of the older rides at Six Flags. It's not all that new and exciting, but it's still kind of fun.
Originally Posted: November 19, 2005
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