Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on May 2011

© 2009 Studio Canal All Rights Reserved

An Atom Egoyan (Exotica, The Sweet Hereafter) near-miss that’s nonetheless an intriguing sit, at least until the Hollywood-ish third act. Up to that point, it’s an interesting examination of deception, perception and jealousy. A Toronto woman (Julianne Moore) suspects her admittedly flirty husband (Liam Neeson) of cheating, and hires a call girl (Amanda Seyfried) to (merely) tempt him to find out if he would do such a thing. What she doesn’t foresee is getting turned on by the hooker’s progress reports, or how the girl’s MO of becoming whatever the client wants her to be could backfire. Beautifully acted.