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Yes, it is eerily ironic that Jennifer Aniston, the innocent maiden who was so coldly left behind by Brad Pitt less than a year ago, is now starring in a movie in which lives spiral out of control because of adultery. But drawing parallels to Aniston’s personal life — or worse, conjecturing that she took this movie as a response to her domestic troubles — would be irresponsible and salacious at best, and has no place in a film review.
Besides, the superficial irony of the subject matter has little to do with the fact that “Derailed” doesn’t hold together at all, and instead veers further into predictability and boredom than it does suspense. Aniston plays Lucinda Harris, an unhappily married woman with one child who is such a Good Samaritan that she buys a train ticket for Charles Schine (Clive Owen), an equally unhappily married man with one child who embarrassingly finds himself out of cash. Feeling indebted, he strikes a conversation with her, and soon the two are having lunch and making phone calls to significant others to lie about working late.
Then an interesting, unexpected thing happens: They’re robbed in a hotel room before they consummate the adultery, and Lucinda is raped by the gruff thief (Vincent Cassel). The premise thus far is an intriguing one, and even has you guessing as to what will come next; after all, they’re not bad people, just two lonely individuals who hesitate then give into their prurient urges.
Unfortunately, the direction taken by writer Stuart Beattie and director Mikael Hafstrom is a road often traveled. The thug, Philippe, begins to stalk Charles and his family, and blackmails Charles until his entire savings account is depleted. Meanwhile, Lucinda refuses to go to the police in fear of having the affair exposed and her marriage ruined. Charles enlists the help of an ex-con (convincingly played by musician RZA) and tries to take matters into his own hands, but only makes the situation worse. All of this leads to an inevitable conclusion and completely unnecessary finale; in fact, the final five minutes are the kind of filler you’d usually find on the extras of a DVD, watch, and say to yourself: “Hmm — I can see why they cut that out.”
With a tired story and non-existent suspense, Owen and Aniston somehow find ways to provide solid performances. Although we’ve seen Owen in a variety of roles (“Closer,” “Sin City”), here he’s compelling as an innocent man who longs to again have the bland tranquility that was his marriage. Aniston, as she proved in the little-seen but critically acclaimed “The Good Girl,” demonstrates a dramatic range and subtlety that will surprise those who only know her as Rachel.
Stupid situations that bring about karmic catastrophes have long been the foils for unsuspecting, innocent men in movies (watch any film noir from the late ‘40s or ‘50s for further evidence). Although the gloomy atmosphere of “Derailed” tries to suggest a modern noir, there’s little here that warrants attention and, worse, nothing that justifies spending $10 to see.
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