The premise of the Halle Berry, Bruce Willis thriller ‘Perfect Stranger’ is that everyone lies.
And since the internet, advertising and tell-all journalism all play a central role in the film, it’s not difficult to embrace the concept.
But ‘Perfect Stranger’ moves far beyond the unreliability of cyberspace to examine a group of people whose constancy is as suspect as any chat room temptress.
‘Perfect Stranger’ shows us a diverse group of people who grow more complex and devious as the movie progresses. Every time we have the bad guy figured out, events shift focus, characters become more complex, motivations are revealed until finally the murderer is caught.
Or is he-she, and can you trust anything you have seen? Remember, everyone lies.
The film begins with New York City newspaper reporter Rowina Price (Halle Berry) going undercover to investigate the death of an old friend. She is assisted by her ace researcher Miles Haley (Giovanni Ribisi) who is flat out in love with her.
The man they suspect is Harrison Hill (Bruce Willis) a high-powered ad exec who generated a stack of erotic emails outlining a torrid affair with the deceased. Berry goes undercover in his organization as a temp called Katherine, hoping to track him down.
Berry also assumes a sexy online personality named Veronica (a.k.a. Rocketgirl) who attempts to seduce the ever-willing Hill. Who is being watched by his suspecting wife. Who controls all the money.
Director James Foley (‘Glengarry Glenn Ross’) ratchets up the complexity and suspense as Berry tries to keep her several personalities from running one into the other.
Inevitably they do and the results are…
Well, the film certainly should be left to unfold its own secrets but be careful, it leads down many dark and tangled paths.
Rowina may not be the only one with a shifting identity.
That does not mean that Todd Komarnicki’s screenplay is padded. There are a few red herrings here but each possible outcome seems plausible. Apparently Foley shot three different endings and each could apply.
Or not.
I’m not attempting to be cute here – just trying to give you some idea of how convoluted the film is.
Foley certainly knows how to shoot a thriller. The early scenes between the driven reporter and her creepy researcher are shot in screen filling close-ups not only demonstrating the sometimes uncomfortable intimacy of their relationship but giving the feeling that here are two people who have worked together for a long time and can finish each others’ sentences. Berry’s sexiness adds yet another layer to her character and she effectively grows more intense as the film progresses.
A laid-back Willis quells his familiar tics and grimaces to deliver a charming but increasingly menacing portrait of a philandering rogue who may also
The production values are first rate particularly Antonio Pinto’s music which combines warmly human themes with some effective techno-suspense passages.
‘Perfect Stranger’ creates no new ground as did the similar ‘The Usual Suspects,’ and the plot probably won’t stand up to hard scrutiny, but it is a fine example of the kind of thriller that keeps you guessing until the final frame.
Which packs a surprise of its own.
Perfect Stranger
Opens April 13th. MPAA: Rated R for sexual content, nudity, some disturbing violent images and language.
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