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Chloe (2009)

Director: Atom Egoyan

Time Out rating

Average user rating

5 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out Film Guide

Atom Egoyan only directs – not writes – this more slick, less subtle but still enjoyably barmy remake of ‘Nathalie’, the 2003 film which saw a middle-aged Parisian (Fanny Ardant) employ a hooker (Emmanuelle Béart) to seduce her philandering husband (Gérard Depardieu) and report on the details.

There was something so French about the original (the implicit acceptance of adultery, for one) that it’s not surprising that the emphasis has changed so that the affairs of the husband (Liam Neeson) are less certain and more of a possibility that prompts the hiring of Chloe (Amanda Seyfried) by his wife (Julianne Moore).

But there’s a literalism that disappoints: just when you’re enjoying the suggestion that the entire set-up is reflective of the wife’s turmoil or, at least, her mid-life crisis, the story takes a silly turn into stalker-thriller territory. Egoyan’s style is strictly arthouse-accessible: soft colours and dark shadows; modern architecture; a hint of erotica and the odd nipple shot.

Author: Dave Calhoun

Time Out Film Guide

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User reviews of this film

keith said...

Posted on Dec 16 2011 12:35 excellent film with credible women keeping abreast of their man. Great depth of erotica from both women.

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angela said...

Posted on Oct 19 2011 22:41 good film stupid ending

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Robert Thornton said...

Posted on Dec 27 2010 21:47 I thought the film was very good with the interesting twist which I suddenly realised with some shock. Spoiler >> The big let down was the ending with Chloe going out the window which would be quite impossible, there must have been a better way of removing Chloe from their lives. Julianne Moore's acting was really heartfelt as it usually is.

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philmk said...

Posted on Mar 11 2010 09:25 Interesting if unconvincing story of interaction of fears and desires between husband, wife, son and hired temptress. Nice nipple shots.

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Pamela Meadows said...

Posted on Oct 27 2009 12:57 Disappointing. Good performances outweighed by script that appeared to have been written by a committee, so that characters behave in a bizarre way and all sorts of loose ends are dropped in but then not developed.

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