A good thriller keeps you guessing, but sometimes the guessing can get out of control and that's the case here in this political thriller that involves the children of Faye Dunaway and Frank Langella, and their loyal friend and neighbor Barbara Parkins. Faye Dunaway plays neurotic very well, and her wife and mother seems very loyal on the surface, but as usual, she's one macadamia short of a nuthouse, and that gives e actress a chance to deliciously chew the scenery as if she was grinding hazelnuts with her teeth to later add to her coffee. Husband Langella has something up with his career which gets him involved in some very convoluted Intrigue, apparently fired from his job but there's so much more going on. And of course, Parkins is involved and yes, a bit too friendly which leads to a late in the film showdown between her and Dunaway.
There are some great scenes of Dunaway with the two children frolicking on the streets of Paris, in front of many famous historical sites. But then there's a heretic car accident where it slams into a truck, leading the one inside as It prepares to explode. It's only through quick thinking that the little boy is removed, but shortly after, he is believed to have drowned in the river, when in fact, he's being held captive. Later the little girl disappears as well.
Often this film is trying to be too clever for its own good, and poor editing makes it rather convoluted and often confusing. Individual scenes are great, particularly a moment when a babysitter who has struck the little boy (allegedly for trying to put out her eye with a pencil), leading to a confrontation with the dearest mommy. While Dunaway is beautiful, her character is so neurotic that often that beauty is hidden by the messiness of what is going on inside her oh, and that does at least add some realism. Langella, whom the intrigue surrounds, doesn't really get to play a well-rounded character, so the film Falls to Dunaway's hands to try to keep the audience engaged. It's one of her many artistic failures of the late 60's and early 70's, and she's always commanding to watch. Parkins too does a good job, her lady of mystery quite interesting. So this is an intriguing mess of a film, definitely a must for Dunaway fans, but certainly not Hitchcock like in any way.
There are some great scenes of Dunaway with the two children frolicking on the streets of Paris, in front of many famous historical sites. But then there's a heretic car accident where it slams into a truck, leading the one inside as It prepares to explode. It's only through quick thinking that the little boy is removed, but shortly after, he is believed to have drowned in the river, when in fact, he's being held captive. Later the little girl disappears as well.
Often this film is trying to be too clever for its own good, and poor editing makes it rather convoluted and often confusing. Individual scenes are great, particularly a moment when a babysitter who has struck the little boy (allegedly for trying to put out her eye with a pencil), leading to a confrontation with the dearest mommy. While Dunaway is beautiful, her character is so neurotic that often that beauty is hidden by the messiness of what is going on inside her oh, and that does at least add some realism. Langella, whom the intrigue surrounds, doesn't really get to play a well-rounded character, so the film Falls to Dunaway's hands to try to keep the audience engaged. It's one of her many artistic failures of the late 60's and early 70's, and she's always commanding to watch. Parkins too does a good job, her lady of mystery quite interesting. So this is an intriguing mess of a film, definitely a must for Dunaway fans, but certainly not Hitchcock like in any way.