Customer Reviews

Intersection [VHS]

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

It has been a long time since American Gigolo, but Richard Gere remains quite a ladies man. Yes, this movie is about complicated relationsships, but the concept has been exceptionally well executed. The scenery of the Pacific Northwest is just gorgeous with dramatic moods and camera perspectives. I thought that while Richard Gere was phenomenal in Primal Fear, Red Corner and in The Jackal, this movie, Intersection, makes him shine and brings out a lot of his superb acting qualities with all kinds of emotions.
It is probably because this movie doesn't have the typical blueprint Hollywood ending, that this flick has been overlooked and so far has never received any significant recognition, but the ending is definitely a surprise. There are a number of interesting twists throughout the film and like I said before, the director really captured the various moods and even created and expressed the right kind of emotions. And although the movie has an overall sad undertone to it as it shows the midlife crisis of architect Eastman (R. Gere), it's just one of these rare motion picture masterpieces which you will want to watch at least a few times every year. It's an excellent picture.

A hard film experience to explain. Through most of my first viewing of the film I was intrigued by the weave of the lives all described in the flashback during Vincent's death.

I must admit though that the film didn't really grasp me like I had hoped it would. Until the end, that is. I don't want to give away the ending of this film, but I have to say that it is one of the best-scripted endings I have ever seen in a film. The solution is thoroughly satisfying, reasonable, and happy. The most amazing part of the ending is that this is done without even a touch of being cheesy or sappy.

On further viewing of the film I began to enjoy it more and more. The photography is superb creating a subtle intimate feeling of sharing the experiences with all involved. Photography, however, pales in comparison to the editing. For a story that is told through non-linear flashbacks, editing is everything and this film has it in spades.

Films about out own mortality affect different people in different ways. We all have decisions in our life where we are never sure what the right path to take is. Do not be confused, that is the Intersection referred to here.

Why it is so underrated ? May be because it doesn't have normal good ending ... but in my point of view - it does . The scene between Lolita Davidovich and Sharon Stone at the end ... THIS what made a real good end to this fine film .
Richard Gere is stuck between his controlfreak reach wife ( Sharon Stone )and a love of his life ( Lolita Davidovich ). He stuck between must and want . He has to pick , but he cann't . And we think , we know his final desision ... but we don't . At the last minute of this film we do find out ... and we still surprised .

I absolutely loved this movie. Totally feel that it did not get the acclaim it deserved. You fall head over heels with Lolita Davidovitch's character because she is so warm, loving, funny and human. Sharon Stone, while a bit of an ice queen, is the mother of Gere's child and still has a large part of his heart. My favorite part of the movie is the last scene with the women together. While they are miles apart in style and attitude, they both have an amazing amount of heart and class in their own unique way that comes through in the way neither chooses to hurt the other.

I know what the reviewers want you to believe...that this film is awful and that you won't enjoy it. If you love lovestories then you will love this film. The actors and their relationships are simply captivating all the way up to the end of the film where you understand each motivation and each emotion as if it were your own. So ignore the reviewers! Enjoy this captivating film

Everyone knows the plot synopsis already so this is just my opinion. I bought this DVD after catching part of the movie on TV. I was totally engrossed in the story of Vincent's lust for Olivia and betrayal of Sally. I especially enjoyed the ending where the two women meet at the hospital, each thinking she has won her man, neither knowing the truth. Lolita Davidovich was absolutely charming. This is a great movie to pop in the DVD player on a rainy Saturday afternoon.

Richard Gere guides you through his life in a series of flashbacks that details his troubled marriage and the meeting of his significant other. The movie clearly keeps your attention by cleverly combining flashbacks with the present day to tell a story in an unconventional way. The storyline can probably be applied to almost anyone who views the movie. We all have shared this struggle with emotion. Maybe the critics see too much of themselves in this movie, therefore they have cast it aside in order not to shine any light on their own lives.

Intersection started with a disadvantage in that it's a remake of one of my favorite films, Les Choses de la Vie. The original uses a terrible car crash (one of the best ever filmed) as a starting point for a series of flashbacks and reflections on the turning point in an architect's life, when the relationship that ended his marriage is in danger of self-destructing because of his inability to make an effort. But where the accident is that film's focal point, replayed in various different ways as a kind of inescapable destiny, in Intersection it is used almost as an afterthought to bring some resolution to a mundane soap opera about an indecisive man torn between his career-conscious wife and his more liberal lover (though I wonder if that may be last-minute re-editing into a more linear structure to 'save' the film since its original release date was pushed back).

It's not a case of not giving the film a chance - there have been interesting re-workings of European films by Hollywood before - or expecting a raunchfest because of Gere or Stone's presence. It's just that it's really not very good.

The result isn't exactly unwatchable, but it is overwritten, over scored and surprisingly uncinematic. Rydell gives the film plenty of gloss but few cinematic flourishes, concentrating on the seen-it-all-before romance in a way that seems more TV movie of the week than anything worth paying to see on the big screen. Sharon Stone is superb as the ex-wife and Davidovitch does well as the lover despite some unfortunate and unnecessary scenes towards the end that undermine her character to make Gere look good - which brings me to the film's major failing. Gere's character and performance. Gere can act and has done good work, but this is an especially shallow and by-the-numbers ego trip more than a performance. Aside from being the screen's most unconvincing architect (and that includes Woody Harrelson in Indecent Proposal), the smug, self, narcissistic performance here prevents us from ever caring about whether the character lives or dies. Even the film's one nearly successful scene at a post office when he can't decide whether to post an important letter is ultimately destroyed by his hammy grandstanding phone call at the end of it.

Not that the script is any help. Scenes are overwritten, achingly obvious and horribly predictable, with everything spelled out in broad strokes. Ultimately you're just left wandering from predictable scene to predictable scene with little interest. Slick, watchable, forgettable, the final insult is that the novel and Claude Sautet film this misfire is based on is only acknowledged at the very, very end of the credits when no-one is likely to spot it. That said, the filmmakers are probably grateful not to be associated with this one...

Note: This will allude to some spoilers.

One reason to watch this film is to see the beautiful pairing of Gere and Stone. (See also Gere and Kaprisky in Breathless: a stunning couple in the prime of their youth.)

However, there is far more to this movie than a slick presentation. Stone's cool blonde beauty is a little too icy, making the flame of the warm redhead (Davidovich) too hard for Gere to resist.

Sally and Olivia are poised and dignified when they meet, which encourages respect for the characters and an interest in following their story.

The eventual train wreck of a car wreck is tough to watch. The director uses slow motion to good advantage. Tragic as Vincent's demise is, we get to see his vision where he ends up with the girl, and Sally ends up with the guy of her choice. In a perfect world the ex will always lift a glass to his or her replacement, but how often does that actually happen? This makes for great cinema.

What really sold me on this film for good is the way that Sally and Olivia chose to keep their respective secrets in the end, each allowing the other to maintain her dignity and self-esteem.

All triangles should be this dignified and classy. All films should end on note this high and admirable.

I haven't had time to watch this yet, but, is it possible for Richard Gere to make a bad movie? Maybe, but, he is always worth seeing. This is Richard Gere's movie isn't it?