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July 2010
cast: Idris Elba, Beyoncé Knowles, Ali Larter, Jerry O'Connell, and Christine Lahti
director: Steve Shill
108 minutes (15) 2009
widescreen ratio 2.40:1
Sony blu-ray region B retail
RATING: 2/10
review by William N. Dyer
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Obsessed
This is the story of happy family-man Derek (Idris Elba), Sharon (Beyoncé Knowles), and their baby, all being put at risk through the actions
of an obsessive, good-looking woman, Lisa (Ali Larter), who attempts to get the husband to shag her and be hers forever. The production values
are good, the acting is fine, but the story, well it's been done.
I did not find it tense but found that I was squirming as you could guess the telegraphed storyline. Not my cup of fluid, but I'm sure that
if you liked or enjoyed Fatal Attraction then you might like this updated pretty people version of that same idea. Why did Obsessed
not work for me?
The 'obsessed' character Lisa is one-dimensional and ends up being funny rather than thrilling. The switching from a white family (Fatal
Attraction) to a black family changed nothing in the plot. It still remains a repurposing of the Fatal Attraction idea, and not a
strong one...
I'm a man. Not a male chauvinist pig or a sexist, just an average guy. But it feels like a woman's film. I don't believe that the guy would
let things get anywhere near the situation presented in the film, especially if he's supposed to be smart and talented. I don't believe the
premise.
It doesn't matter how good the actors are and they are good or how well shot the film is and it is, if the story does not ring true, then no
amount of production values or twists are going to turn a reinterpretation of a poor story into a great or even good film.
The only piece of action that justifies the watching is the engaging catfight between the leading ladies at the end of the film. It's got a
rough Kill Bill feel about it.
There's not a lot more I can constructively say about this movie. Unless you're desperate don't waste your time. There are much better movies
to be seen.
Special features: three featurettes and trailers, plus BD Live, which I found very disappointing. The onscreen fonts, even on a large screen,
required the viewer to get up close and uncomfortable. Not a great advert for the facility.
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