Sliding Doors (1998)

Sliding Doors

Year: 1998
Film Studio: Paramount Pictures, Miramax Films, Mirage Productions
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Length: 99 Min.

Director
Peter Howitt (1957)

Writing
Peter Howitt (1957)...Writer

Producer
Helen Booth
Philippa Braithwaite
Guy East
William Horberg
Sydney Pollack (1934)
Sandy Poustie
Nigel Sinclair
David Wisnievitz

Cinematographer
Remi Adefarasin (1948)

Music
David Hirschfelder (1960)...Composer

Stars
Gwyneth Paltrow (1972) as Helen Quilley
John Hannah (1962) as James Hammerton
John Lynch (1961) as Gerry
Jeanne Tripplehorn (1963) as Lydia
Zara Turner as Anna
Douglas McFerran as Russell
Paul Brightwell as Clive
Nina Young (1966) as Claudia

Review
   A young woman is rushing to the subway to catch a train back to her apartment after losing her job. As she is coming down the stairs towards the platform, a child coming up the stairs slightly brushes her to the side. This slight diversion in her descent to the platform causes enough of a delay to prohibit her from entering the train, as the doors slide closed just ahead of her. Reversing the scene and restarting the sequence again, what if the same child’s mother suddenly whisks her daughter to the side before she brushes against the young woman and instead of impeding her progress towards the train; she continues unabated to the subway car and enters just as the doors slide shut? Would that somewhat insignificant instance drastically alter the outcome of the rest of her day, and possibly the rest of her life? It’s an interesting philosophical question and a very ingenious concept for a screenplay.

   This the heart of the story in Sliding Doors, starring Gwyneth Paltrow as a young woman named Helen whose life travels down two different paths concurrently after the aforementioned twist of fate. As one version of the narrative reveals the infidelity of her fiancé, she opts to start her life anew in fresh surroundings with a complete makeover of her appearance and character. This change helps to keep the viewer from becoming confused as to which account they are watching at the time. As the two plots unfold, one path seems to take her on a journey towards a bright future, while the other descends her life deeper into despair. Just when you think the film is leading to the inevitable conclusions to both tales, fate once again steps in and changes the outcome of both stories.

   It’s refreshing to watch a film with a screenplay that is completely unpredictable and at the same time entertaining. All too often, one element must be sacrificed to insure the other elements success. Nowadays it takes an independent film company to bankroll a film of this nature, and thank God for that. With Hollywood stuck in a blockbuster remake mode of filmmaking, moviegoers who are tired of rehashed tripe, full of violence, nudity and special effects, must have an alternative avenue for their entertainment dollar.

Ratings Criterion
5 Stars - The pinnacle of film perfection and excellence.
4 ½ Stars - Not quite an immortal film, yet a masterpiece in its own right.
4 Stars - Historically important film, considered a classic.
3 ½ Stars - An entertaining film that’s fun or engaging to watch.
3 Stars – A good film that’s worth a Netflix venture.
2 ½ Stars - Borderline viewable.
2 Stars – A bad film that may have a moment of interest.
1 ½ Stars – Insipid, trite and sophomoric, and that's its good points.
1 Star – A film so vacuous, it will suck 2 hours from the remainder of your life.
½ Star - A gangrenous and festering pustule in the chronicles of celluloid.