Wicker Park (2004)

A young Chicago advertising executive believes a woman he sees in a café is his long-lost love. His conviction leads to obsession, as he puts his life on hold to trail her.

Director:

Paul McGuigan

Writers:

Gilles Mimouni (film L'Appartement), Brandon Boyce (screenplay)

Stars:

Josh Hartnett, Rose Byrne, Matthew Lillard

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Josh Hartnett	...	Matthew
Rose Byrne	...	Alex
Matthew Lillard	...	Luke
Diane Kruger	...	Lisa
Christopher Cousins	...	Daniel
Jessica Paré	...	Rebecca
Vlasta Vrana	...	Jeweller
Amy Sobol	...	Ellie
Ted Whittall	...	Walter
Isabel Dos Santos	...	Chamber Maid
Joanna Noyes	...	Mary
Kerrilyn Keith	...	Female Customer
Mark Camacho	...	Bartender
Marcel Jeannin	...	Theater Director
Stéfanie Buxton	...	Ticket Agent

Storyline

Matthew, a young advertising executive in Chicago, puts his life and a business trip to China on hold when he thinks he sees Lisa, the love of his life who walked out on him without a word two years earlier, walking out of a restaurant one day. With a little help from his friend Luke, Matthew obsessively and relentlessly tracks Lisa down and while doing so, runs into another young woman calling herself Lisa whom, unknown to Matthew, is an actress named Alex and may hold the key to Lisa's disappearance, and discovery.

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Plot Keywords:

restaurant | obsession | photographer | key | actress | 

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Taglines:

Passion never dies.

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Romance | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sexuality and language

Details

Official Sites:

Filmax [es] MGM [us]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 September 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

Obsessed

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$36,581 (South Africa) (20 May 2005)

Gross:

$111,995 (South Africa) (27 May 2005)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Lakeshore Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

114 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The restaurant, where Matthew overhears Lisa talking on the telephone, is called "Bellucci". Monica Bellucci was the female lead in the French original The Apartment, of which this film is a remake.

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Goofs

When Matt and Lisa are making love for the first time, Lisa takes off Matt's shirt and in the next shot Matt is wearing his shirt.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Jeweller: [holding a diamond ring] Magnificent, aren't they? "God's tears".
Matthew: Yeah. It's beautiful. So are the others, I... I guess I just have to make the right decision.
Jeweller: In the end it's not your eye that must decide.

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Connections

References Vertigo (1958)

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Soundtracks

"I Miss You Now"
Written by Kelly Jones
Performed by Stereophonics
Courtesy of V2 Records, Inc.

User Reviews

Awful Acting, Awful Directing, Awful Soundtrack. A Disastrous Remake of an Amazing Film.

Where can I being?!? When I first heard that this was Hollywood's remake of the French Film L'appartement I was thrilled and excited to see it. I was never a fan of any sort of Romantic Films, but the brilliance of L'appartement changed my mind. However, it's an unfair comparison since Vincent Cassel is one of the best International Actors who is capable of playing a vast rage of characters from a Russian Mobster in Eastern Promises, to a clueless Jewish Teenager in La Haine to an egomaniac complex criminal in L'ennemi Public Numero Un and finally a concerned lover in Irreversible. Monica Bellucci is possibly one of them few women who remain beautiful regardless of age, let alone having a great acting abilities.

First, the suspense. Wicker Park lacks the suspense and the ability to keep you involved in the story. Second, the acting. Horrible, emotionless and far from convincing. Third, symbolism. Wicker Park lacks the symbolism and the artistic moves that infused the original title L'appartement. However, I can hardly blame the director since the film is aimed at a far less sophisticated demographic "American Viewers" VS the original "French,Italian,Spanish and Francophone Audiences". Fourth, the soundtrack is mediocre at best. The original soundtrack is mind blowing. A very haunting and beautifully written classical music that compliments the suspense and unpredictability of the events.

In conclusion, don't waste your money on this Film. Instead get a copy of the Original Title L'appartement, buy some alcohol, invite your best friend or your girl/boyfriend and enjoy the original masterpiece.