tbills2 It all began on a windy day, happening in only a moment's time, the decision to cheat, and lie, resulting in sorrow, ending in death.Unfaithful is softspokenly Diane Lane's best most beautiful film. It's silly to think I don't love her, Diane that is. Diane is so ultra sexy, and one of the most beautiful women of her time, this time that is. She's so f'ing hot in this. I love her nude scenes and her body is really spectacular. On my life, the stairwell sex scene with Diane in white panties is heaven-sent. Richard Gere is excellent.Unfaithful is a beautiful, moody movie that treats sex like sex and betrayal with no remorse. It's so great, I want to watch it again, and again, and again.

seymourblack-1 Early on in this movie, there's a storm brewing and when it ends, we're left to consider the sheer devastation that it's left behind. The "storm" in this update of Claude Chabrol's "La Femme Infidele" (1969), takes the form of a steamy affair that so intoxicates a seemingly happily-married woman that she recklessly risks the privileged life that she has with her loving family so that she can indulge in all the excitement, thrills and danger that she experiences in her encounters with a handsome stranger. Despite some moments of guilt that she can't escape, she carries on relentlessly until her husband becomes aware of her betrayal and reacts in a way that neither he nor she could ever have imagined and in so doing, destroys any hope of either of them ever being truly happy again.Connie Sumner (Diane Lane) lives in a riverside mansion in the suburbs of New York City with her caring, good-humoured husband Edward (Richard Gere) and their 8-year-old son Charlie (Erik Per Sullivan). With a wealthy husband (who runs his own business) and a housekeeper, Connie doesn't need to be employed or to be at home too much and so spends her time shopping, socialising and fund-raising for charities. One day, when she's been shopping, she collides with a young man in a Manhattan street and grazes her knee. Because it's very stormy, the taxis are all full and she can't catch a cab to take her home. As the collision had happened just outside his home, Paul Martel (Olivier Martinez) invites her up to his apartment where he makes her a drink and gives her an ice-pack and a Band Aid for her injured knee. Before she leaves, Paul, who's a book dealer, gives Connie a book of poems as a present.Connie finds it difficult to stop thinking about the good-looking young Frenchman who'd been so helpful and friendly during their meeting and so, when she finds his telephone number in her poetry book, she takes the opportunity to get in touch with him and this proves to be her first step on the road to becoming his lover. After they consummate their relationship, Connie feels incredibly exhilarated, turned-on and also rather guilty when she reflects on what's transpired. Inevitably though, Edward notices some changes in her behaviour at home and starts to become suspicious about what's made her become so distracted. He hires a private detective to follow her and is shocked by what the investigation unearths.Edward finds out where Paul lives and goes to see him at his apartment. Their meeting is conducted in a very calm and civilised fashion but during a moment of disorientation that Edward suffers as he consumes vodka and tries to come to terms with what's happened, he loses control for a moment and does something that proves to be absolutely devastating for him, Paul and Connie."Unfaithful" is compelling to watch because it illustrates how a woman who has everything that society deems to be important and desirable (i.e. wealth, a privileged lifestyle and a loving family), is willing to risk everything to satisfy her most basic needs. It's also a cautionary tale about the dreadful consequences that can follow on from adultery, sexual obsession and deceit.Adrian Lyne's treatment of this story lacks the tension, subtlety and sophistication of Claude Chabrol's version and instead focuses more on explicit sex scenes, some top-quality photography and the interesting use of symbolism at various points. Probably though, the movie's strongest feature is its cast and their impressive performances with Diane Lane and Richard Gere both superb in their lead roles and Olivier Martinez very naturally displaying the charm and flirtatiousness that made his character so irresistible to Connie.

bjarias Go search 'The Unfaithful Wife' (1969) and read the plot summary.. except for a couple of changes, the plot-line is pretty much identical. After all there are only so many story lines, and they must get repeated over and again. This 2002 version does it pretty well (have not yet viewed the '69 film). Of course, it would have been more realistic for Gere's character to have immediately come clean, but the story had to continue on for another few drawn out scenes. The one character in the film that just did not fit in was the kid. Just could not come to grips with the genetics of a Lane and Gere winding up there. And the ending is a cop-out... they should have had it go one way or the other.

Terry Meehan Java Man Reviews "Unfaithful" (rated R) Directed by Adrian Lyne Written by Alvin Sargent & William Broyles Jr., based on a script by Claude Chabrol Starring Diane Lane, Richard Gere, Olivier Martinez & Erik Per Sullivan Running Time: 123 minutes Originally published in LakewoodBuzz.Com, July, 2002 OVERVIEW Connie Sumner (Lane) lives in the cushy comfort of Westchester County with her attentive but preoccupied husband Edward (Gere) and their cute 9-year-old son Charlie (Sullivan). One day while shopping in New York City, she gets caught in a severe windstorm and is unable to hail a taxi. When she falls and cuts her knee, Paul, a young bookseller with an excess of European charm, comes to her rescue. She soon finds herself in his apartment, getting tea and sympathy—and just a little too excited. Later, she returns to the danger and excitement of the city, revisits Paul's apartment and begins a fiery affair. Edward eventually suspects that Connie has wandered and hires a seedy Shamus to investigate. When the private eye produces proof, a series of events are set in motion that are unpredictable yet inevitable.REVIEW: 3 Java mugs out of 4We know what is going to happen; the title gives that away. What we don't know is why. Why would a happily married woman become unfaithful? Her husband is seemingly not to blame, and there isn't anything especially impulsive in her personality. So, we ask, why? The answer is, it just happens. And, like voyeurs, we watch it happen.This film is based on "La Femme Infidele" (1969) by New Waver Claude Chabrol, and the French connection is evident. A typical Hollywood film would provide justifications and explanations for her infidelity, but this film simply shows a woman who knows that what she's doing is wrong but does it anyway. The events that result from her actions aren't easily resolved and the filmmakers do not tack on a pat Hollywood ending.As for performances, Gere is understated but effective as the hurting husband and Martinez is believable as the charming young book dealer, but the film belongs to Lane, whose remarkably complex performance should be remembered at Oscar time. If we learn anything about the mystery of infidelity, it's through her performance. But thankfully, some exciting mysteries--like a windstorm, the streets of New York or an affair--are left unsolved.Director Lyne, best known for Fatal Attraction, another, far less subtle film about adultery, has taken a more thoughtful screenplay and fashioned a sexy, suspenseful drama for an adult audience.