Chloe

Nowadays trust seems to have become an issue with people, especially when even celebrity marriages that are supposed to be picture perfect, like Tiger Woods’, reveal unfaithful spouses. So what is a good way to make sure that a spouse is cheating? Lure them with the exact things that will trap them – someone who has the right look and the act of seduction. In Chloe, Catherine Stewart (Julianne Moore) bribes a young lady she meets (Amanda Seyfried) to seduce her husband, and we are given a great drama filled with insight and wit.

Directed by Atom Egoyan, the story really explodes just minutes into the film when Catherine (Julianne Moore), a gynecologist, decides to throw a surprise birthday party for her husband, David (Liam Neeson), a college music professor, at their fabulous home in Toronto’s Yorkville neighborhood. When David fails to show up for the party with the excuse that he missed his flight by just a few minutes, Catherine suspects he is cheating on her. She soon hires a young hooker, Chloe (Amanda Seyfried), to run into David at his usual coffee shop, seduce him and report back to her on his actions. When Catherine starts to get the feedback she begins to wish she hadn’t done this, and is torn between her emotions on what to do.

The film keeps the audience on its toes with suspense and intrigue up until the end, and Liam Neeson and Julianne Moore make such a believable couple, this is one of Julianne Moore’s best roles as she is really on fire on the screen with her emotions. When Chloe gives Catherine the update on meeting David in a park, telling her that David asked to kiss her, you can see the sadness in Julianne’s eyes. It is also great to see Liam Neeson back on screen, especially in this type of role for a change, as I would usually match this character to someone like Michael Douglas in the classic thriller Fatal Attraction. I must say that there are certainly some eye-popping seduction scenes between Julianne Moore and Amanda Seyfried as the two characters become closer, with the story leading to a dramatic climax.

Usually, women are portrayed as weak characters in dramas about cheating spouses. It is a change to see that these two actresses are the stronger characters on the screen. It also helps that the story came across as very realistic, and that in this day and age when we have a tough economy it proves that not every wealthy couple has an easy life behind closed doors. I haven’t seen that many great dramas recently, and feel that this one is a step in the right direction. With its sharp dialogue, great soundtrack of opera and classical music and excellent cast, I look forward to the next film by Atom Egoyan as I feel he will have several tense dramas in store for us.

Chloe • Dolby® Digital surround sound in select theatres • Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 • Running Time: 96 minutes • MPAA Rating: R for strong sexual content including graphic dialogue, nudity and language. • Distributed by Sony Pictures Classics