surprisingly good

Rating: 8/10 (23 May 2006)

Given the sexy, suspense thriller image that marketers have created for this movie I went into it expecting something formulaic, high on action and sex and low on character development. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was a thought-provoking story driven by subtle characterizations and allusions to Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment. The interactions of the characters are intriguing to watch and grounded in realism and the acting is mostly strong throughout.
A voice-over at the beginning suggests that luck may be more of a determining factor in life than is often thought and the events which follow support this central idea. At the same time the film explores the familiar themes of obsession and love vs. ambition. Whether the movie intends to be taken seriously with respect to any of these themes is hard to tell. Unfortunately any serious artistic aims are undermined towards the end, where real-life credibility takes a back-seat the clever machinations of the plot.
Though artistically less sound, this movie is nevertheless a worthwhile ride as it manages to be both very entertaining and thought-provoking at the same time.