When i rented Wicker Park (WP) because of Harnette was in it, i didn't know that it was the remake of my most favorite french film, L'appartement which stars Monica Belucci and her husband, Vincent Cassel.
Since the opening dialog, WP brings the spirit of L'appartement with it, so I cannot help comparing the two versions. For those who have not seen the original version would probably think that WP is so original on the story and performance. But it is far from original.
I got so disappointed as i watched further, when I see see the actors in WP do not play as good as the original version. Matthew was supposed to be extremely sad when Lisa the mysterious girl left him, and he was supposed to be very curious when he finds out that Lisa is only a phone booth away. But Harnett fails to do so.
And in this case Diane Krueger doesn't have the mysterious personality, smile nor face that could make Matt wonders where she had gone to for the past 2 years, while Monica Belucci's acting was definitely up the film.
Something is missing in this film, and the actors seems like they don't understand about the plot either. And I think is WP took out the most important thing of the story which is about Matthew's attraction to the fake Lisa a.k.a Alex. In WP, it seems that Alex was the one who seduces Matthew, and that Matthew was forced to attracted to her in the first place. And since WP eliminates most of the substantial details from the movie, (such as the diary which Alex wrote that explains her actions, Lisa-Alex's friendship, and the suspense of Lisa's rich boy friend Danniel) it successfully turns WP into a puzzling unworthy romantic film with Hollywood ending. Especially when Matthew dumps Rebecca on the airport. Like it is so easy to tell your girl friend, that you have been not yourself for the past 2 years.
I suggest to watch the original version first. But then it would probably blow you away and makes you don't even want to watch any future remakes of it.
