The stage curtains open ...
"Sleeping With The Enemy" finds Julia Roberts in her prime. After having such huge success with films like "Pretty Woman", "Steel Magnolias", and "Flatliners" - it came as a surprise that she would take on a project like this with relative unknown actors, Patrick Bergin and Kevin Anderson. A trend she would continue in her following film feature, "Dying Young". Despite the buzz this created, the film was a box office success.
It is the story of a married woman who seems to have an idyllic life - a husband who is well-off, a beautiful home overlooking the ocean, days of picking seashells off of the beach, and formal events. The reality of her life was quite the opposite as she was the victim of an abusive, domineering and controlling husband. She takes advantage of an opportunity to escape his clutches, faking her death and daring to start a new life somewhere else. But, as she is settling down and finding love again, her husband discovers the truth and begins to hunt her down.
This is a very well made and suspenseful movie. Julia Roberts was perfectly cast as she believably portrays her character. Both of the "unknown" actors were also very strong in their roles - Bergin as the nightmare of a husband, and Anderson as the drama teacher who genuinely cares for and falls for her. The film has several memorable scenes and holds up pretty well after all this time. The pacing is good, the cinematography well done.
I highly recommend this movie. I've enjoyed it just as much as the first time with each viewing and it hasn't gotten old with me. A satisfying story with solid performances. It just goes to show you don't need big names to make a good movie.
"Sleeping With The Enemy" finds Julia Roberts in her prime. After having such huge success with films like "Pretty Woman", "Steel Magnolias", and "Flatliners" - it came as a surprise that she would take on a project like this with relative unknown actors, Patrick Bergin and Kevin Anderson. A trend she would continue in her following film feature, "Dying Young". Despite the buzz this created, the film was a box office success.
It is the story of a married woman who seems to have an idyllic life - a husband who is well-off, a beautiful home overlooking the ocean, days of picking seashells off of the beach, and formal events. The reality of her life was quite the opposite as she was the victim of an abusive, domineering and controlling husband. She takes advantage of an opportunity to escape his clutches, faking her death and daring to start a new life somewhere else. But, as she is settling down and finding love again, her husband discovers the truth and begins to hunt her down.
This is a very well made and suspenseful movie. Julia Roberts was perfectly cast as she believably portrays her character. Both of the "unknown" actors were also very strong in their roles - Bergin as the nightmare of a husband, and Anderson as the drama teacher who genuinely cares for and falls for her. The film has several memorable scenes and holds up pretty well after all this time. The pacing is good, the cinematography well done.
I highly recommend this movie. I've enjoyed it just as much as the first time with each viewing and it hasn't gotten old with me. A satisfying story with solid performances. It just goes to show you don't need big names to make a good movie.