Tuesday 22 January 2019

Retro Review: Intersection (1994)

Intersection
1994
Cast: Richard Gere, Sharon Stone, Lolita Davidovich, Martin Landau, David Selby, Jennifer Morrison
Genre: Thriller
U.S Box Office Gross: over $21 million

Plot: A man has to choose between his wife of 16 years, or his new love





'Takes A Wrong & Dull Turn For The Worse'

Originally adapted from the 1970s French film & novel, Les Choses de la Vie (The Things In Life), Intersection is a U.S remake set in Vancouver, Canada; architect Vincent Eastman is married to his wife, Sally and they have a child, but who is also having an affair with another woman, a magazine writer. He is tormented by the struggle of choosing between the two. 

Of note, Jennifer Morrison, who went on to star in the Fox hit medical drama, House plays the young daughter of Vincent and Sally's in Megahan and the film's test market screenings had two erotic sex scenes between Gere and Davidovich, but these were eventually (and sadly) edited out.

Intersection came out at a time when Richard Gere's appeal continued to fade, right after the success of Pretty Woman in the early 1990s and Sharon Stone wanted to show that Basic Instinct was no one-off and fluke when it came to box office movies - yet Intersection became a stain in their somewhat ambivalent careers and after the film's release, their careers never recovered after that. Stone isn't known for playing subtle, vulnerable women and whilst she tries to impart some range, it just seems that she doesn't display more of the emotional traits that are necessary. Although credit to her for going against type as the woman, Sally being 'played' and toyed with by Vincent. Lolita Davidovich exists as nothing more than the woman that Vincent falls for and is utterly void of characterisation in the role that Sharon Stone is mostly known for (and one Stone herself could have been cast in). With Richard Gere, again, both his casting and performance were jaded, lacking in energy and it was not remarkable and like Stone, he doesn't exhibit, nor exude the emotional aspects in a film such as this especially. With Vincent, there was little to no empathy I felt towards him. For an architect, he is dimwitted  & again, Gere never really brings his character out of his shell, when and as expected. 

All three performers have never been known for playing small, subtle characters and ones supposedly with depth,- and in watching Intersection, it easily shows. The onscreen pairing of Gere as Vincent and Stone as Sally just never really lights up. In addition, the story is so padded and the plot is conceived in such an uninspired fashion with rarely any semblance.

It is also dubbed as an erotic thriller; however, the film lacks any sort of drive and willingness to challenge its characters in ways that surprise, shock and stun us as a thriller. As a result, Intersection is a soulless and almost nothing ride where its journey is heading towards, well practically nowhere, or be it a dead end. As illustrated towards the end of the movie. It creates so many problems but never managing to resolve each of them. 

By making the car crash as an afterthought, instead of being the central idea to build the story and its characters around it, and by adding more thrills and tension in areas where it needed more of, it becomes a mediocre and dreary doomed romance. It awkwardly stumbles along and as it went on, the more disinterested I became and the sooner I wanted it to end.    






Final Verdict:

Though of course had it had a better lead than Richard Gere, and perhaps also an actress for Sharon Stone too, Intersection would probably be a tad more enjoyable. As such it never becomes involving as it wants to be and despite its efforts, it is all squandered. 

As theatrical and cinema-released thrillers go, Intersection is clearly and easily one of the sheer worst excesses that existed. 


Overall:

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