An interesting subtle film

Rating: 9/10 (28 January 2009)

People keep saying this film is overrated. However, I think it is underrated. I'm surprised to see its score under 8 now. This film is very interesting yet subtle. Lots of reviews focus on its plot, characters, or morality stuff. I admit the film is good at those views. But what interest me most are the numerous hints through its subliminal channel.
Chris seems to be an intelligent and ambitious guy who always got his luck and passed through difficulties. The match points are always pro to him. While Nola, on the country, is not so much lucky. However, in fact, every thing is under surveillance by Hewett family. If it is not Hewett family, Chris would be definitely caught by the murder case. In the last scene, Chris worked overnight and fallen asleep. Then Nola's ghost (in his dream?) showed up and told him: "you left so many evidences as if you intended to be caught." As a matter of fact, Chris is not a professional criminal, and he is not prudent enough. He did lots of mistakes and did leave lots of evidences. He passed through this case not by his luck (He is lucky, but not that supernaturally lucky), but with the help of Hewett family, who settled everything from behind. When the two detectives showed the diary of Nola to Chris, he was shocked and became very nervous. The thin detective (Banner?) looked at him jeeringly and held his laughing. Banner must be laughing that Chris is so naive and left so many evidences. In fact, Banner has been already bought by Hewett family. He talked to the other detective (Parry?), who has been suspecting Chris from the beginning, and finally persuaded him to stop further investigating. Of course, the most powerful excuse is the ring found from a dead criminal, who took all accuses. But again, it is not a supernatural coincident. Hewett family set it up. However, I must admit it is Chris' lucky (match point) that the ring bounced back when he tried to throw it to the river. And I think Chris's most critical match point is that his wife Chloe is pregnant, which he did not plan at all. Otherwise, it is very likely that Hewett family will give him up, as they gave up Nola before.
This film is full of such hints through its subliminal channel. For example, when Chris went to basement to steal the guns, Chloe was looking for him and intended to go down to find him. But her parents stopped her and asked her to go upstairs. They must have found out Chris' plan and they do not want to stop him. However, Chloe did try to stop him when she insisted to check Chris' bag which held the guns. But she failed and let it go. Some other examples, when Chris had an affair with Nola for the first time, they could be seen through the window of the castle; when Chris and Nola met at Nola's apartment, they could be seen through the window in the building cross the street. But obviously, Hewett family would forgive Chris for that. As Banner told Parry (which might be told by Hewett before): "It is understandable that Chris can't resist a woman like Nola."
It's not always the luck that helps Chris. He prepared a lot. For example, Chris read some classic and profound novels to enrich himself, which later made Mr. Hewett sing high praise for him to his family: "I like him. He is not shallow." On the other hand, Nola is not that lucky. She did not do her work well either. She joined the family half year earlier than Chris, while Mr. Hewett could not even remember her. In order to win the match point, you do need some luck. But you need practice a lot and have good techniques first. Everything may have a reason behind it. Probably that is what the film tries to tell its audience. IMHO, this is an interesting yet subtle film. And it tells a good story with some believable characters, which interest lots of people including me.