Popcorn Reviews With Cybèle: Sliding Doors 

By Cybèle Elaine Werts  
CybeleW@aol.com

SPECIAL NOTE: I have read that Gwyneth Paltrow is the embodiment of the classic movie actresses of the 40’s, affluent, stylish, and grace under pressure. I attended Sliding Doors and A Perfect Murder this weekend to find out if this was true. Unlike Sandra Bullock who’s charm under pressure in Hope Floats was rooted in perkiness and a stunning evening gown, Paltrow’s cool head and clever comebacks rival Grace Kelly in both style and substance. Both films tackle infidelity, with a sure measure of telephone technology and lost keys (a la Notorious).

Popcorn Kernel Rating: 3 3/4 Kernels for a gripping story, solid acting, and hilarious one liners.

In Sliding Doors, Paltrow plays a woman who discovers her boyfriend in bed with another woman. Unlike Hope Floats, however, she doesn’t go home whining to mom. She picks up the pieces, gets a new "do" and starts a business. But this movie isn’t really about the this plot, because we are also offered an alternate reality. In this parallel universe, Paltrow misses the train, and so misses catching her man "shagging" another woman. Unlike real life, we are treated to both realities actually occurring simultaneously. The question is, which will prevail?

Some believe that one’s life has an essential direction, with occasional tangents but always with an eventual return to the main thrust. Sliding Doors is about this kind of destiny. If there was anything that was a little Hollywood here, it was the unequivocal statement on the side of fate, which in this case was a good thing. Unfortunately it didn’t account for the dark side of a belief system that encourages passivity.

Still, the director did a darn good job of it with a story shock full of witty comebacks, rich characters, and action that just doesn’t stop. It was a pleasure to see Tripplehorn in a bitchy role; her nice girl roles were getting old fast. John Hannah is also charming as heck as Paltrow’s new love "James." Watch this at the theatre if you can, and rent it again in six months. There are rather a lot of accents throughout, and I suspect we missed a good number of funny moments.

Suggested Gustatorial Accompaniment: A Bit-O-Honey bar - since it has two kinds of reality as well - the brittle hardness fresh out of the fridge, and the sweet soft chew once it’s melted in your mouth.

Copyright 2000