(Rated R, 118 mins.)
Opens Oct 31st wide/limited 24th
Based on the best selling novel by Susanna Moore, this psychological thriller is directed by Jane Campion and stars Meg Ryan as Fannie Avery, an English teacher by day and phrase voyeur by night. Her passion: Writing. When Malloy (Mark Ruffalo), a homicide detective finds body parts in Avery’s garden, Avery is encouraged by her sister Pauline (Jennifer Jason Leigh) to develop a relationship with him. Soon after Frannie is attacked by a masked assailant, and suddenly everybody in her life seems suspicious including her student Cornelius (Sharrieff Pugh) and her wacky soap opera-doctor-ex-boyfriend (Kevin Bacon). When all is said and done, this attention grabbing throwback to “Looking For Mr. Goodbar” has a twisted ending that has been obviously tampered with by too many Hollywood execs. Ryan should be commended for taking on a role other than her usual button-faced-ringlet-haired romances. Here she’s a sophisticated auburn-haired pro – a Nicole Kidman knock-off, which would make sense since Kidman produces. First time re-teaming with Campion since “Portrait Of A Lady”.
