"Faithful" had many of the elements of a crackling good soap opera. Situations were pushed to the extreme, including a courtroom scene that became wild and over-the-top. An interesting set of characters filled up this 90-minuite film like an entire season of "As the World Turns."
A similar movie called "Unfaithful" (2002) features many of the same elements as both films explored the explosive nature of jealousy. Adam Hewer and his wife Jacklyn (Jax) seem to have a perfect marriage. Adam is especially thoughtful and loving. And yet in a single moment, he loses his composure and is overcome by a jealous rage.
Even soap operas require an internal logic to characterization and action. In this film, the characters' choices stretched credibility. It wasn't so much that Jax had a sudden infatuation on the painter Malik Brown. She instantly recognized that she was at fault for betraying her husband. She then had two substantial conversations with her friend and her mother, who both encouraged Jax to remain true to her marriage vows. While she appeared to be persuaded by her mother and her friend, she inexplicably continued to see Malik. This was the most unconvincing part of the film.
The filmmakers really outdid themselves with the melodrama in an ending that featured the nanny Nikki Sloan giving Adam an unexpected alibi. The scene was followed by the son's eagerness to turn his father in to the police.
One conclusion emerges: there was never a dull moment in this fast-paced roller coaster ride à la "As the World Turns"!
A similar movie called "Unfaithful" (2002) features many of the same elements as both films explored the explosive nature of jealousy. Adam Hewer and his wife Jacklyn (Jax) seem to have a perfect marriage. Adam is especially thoughtful and loving. And yet in a single moment, he loses his composure and is overcome by a jealous rage.
Even soap operas require an internal logic to characterization and action. In this film, the characters' choices stretched credibility. It wasn't so much that Jax had a sudden infatuation on the painter Malik Brown. She instantly recognized that she was at fault for betraying her husband. She then had two substantial conversations with her friend and her mother, who both encouraged Jax to remain true to her marriage vows. While she appeared to be persuaded by her mother and her friend, she inexplicably continued to see Malik. This was the most unconvincing part of the film.
The filmmakers really outdid themselves with the melodrama in an ending that featured the nanny Nikki Sloan giving Adam an unexpected alibi. The scene was followed by the son's eagerness to turn his father in to the police.
One conclusion emerges: there was never a dull moment in this fast-paced roller coaster ride à la "As the World Turns"!
