Psychological crime-drama from Australia has married police detective Anthony LaPaglia, who's been having an extra-marital affair, investigating the disappearance of a woman who had suspected her husband of cheating on her. Well-directed film from Ray Lawrence builds steadily in intensity, while screenwriter Andrew Bovell, who adapted his own play, has a nice ear for realistic dialogue exchanges and gritty character conflict. Bovell unfortunately isn't quite as adept at bringing this case study to a satisfying full-circle, and by the finale some viewers may find it has all been a lot of hot air. Either way, the performers cannot be faulted, as LaPaglia and Barbara Hershey are both terrific. Tightly-wound and absorbing, "Lantana" is a real sleeper and worth a rental for mystery buffs. *** from ****
Review of Lantana
