Flawed but engaging crime tale

Rating: 7/10 (12 October 2014)

Early on in this film, especially if you are really paying attention, you get notice that the story has been augmented in order for it to 'work'. The story, in fact, is extremely flawed with some absolute howlers of action/incident that are just too far fetched to be given 'benefit of the doubt'. However, these flaws do allow you to pick through the story to your own conclusions. Yes, there is a shocking and perhaps surprising development in the middle. You don't spot this because the character involved is portrayed as a 'desirable' type with looks and money. This is another of the incoherent motes in this tale. My feeling is that the story would be more realistic if the genders of the two protagonists were reversed. As it stands, the hardest flaw to reconcile is why the Ben Affleck character doesn't just up sticks and leave? Why was he sticking around to reach an anniversary date to deliver the bad 'news'? Lots of hype around this movie, join the crowd of chatterers if you want because you'll need something to justify the two hours plus needed to watch it.