The Other Man

Image Entertainment | Release Date: September 11, 2009

5.0	USER SCORE Mixed or average reviews based on 16 Ratings

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GlowiaDec 29, 2010

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I enjoyed how it had such great actors, but the plot was depressing, and throughout the movie I hoped there would be some great twist or something exciting would happen. Sadly I was very disappointed and really sick of seeing Lisa's half naked pictures... This movie was not worth 87 minutes of my time. The only thing I liked was how the two men played chess and talked about the women (woman) they loved.… Expand

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HalfwelshmanDec 13, 2011

The Other man some reasonable enough performances from its cast, competent, if uninspired direction from Richard Eyre and a pretty decent finale. Where the film falls short is in the unimaginative, and often lazy script, the lacklustre wayThe Other man some reasonable enough performances from its cast, competent, if uninspired direction from Richard Eyre and a pretty decent finale. Where the film falls short is in the unimaginative, and often lazy script, the lacklustre way the story is told, and in some complete missteps in tone. You're never on the side of vengeful husband Peter (Liam Neeson) - he just comes across as completely irrational and emotionally unstable, whereas you can completely understand why Lisa (Laura Linney) might have run off with the shady, but charming and romantic Ralph (Antonio Banderas). The majority of the film (excepting the unexpectedly entertaining chess matches between Neeson and Banderas, which really amount to an extended debate about who's bigger in the trouser department) moves along sluggishly, and offers little to keep you engaged in the story until the end. The final twenty minutes or so do approach something in the same ball-park as genuine drama, but by then it's too late to save the film, or even to redeem the morally bereft actions of Neeson's character. With a stronger script, a more original and entertaining story and more energetic direction, The Other Man might have been a diamond in the rough of slow-burning romantic dramas. As it is, the film is more akin to the rock that annoyingly conceals a precious gem.… Expand

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GandavienDec 19, 2012

This film promised to be like Taken, an exciting thriller, Liam Neeson hunting down the man who stole his wife. But what we actually got was a very pathetic film.

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JennetPFeb 3, 2011

I almost didn't view this film after reading the negative reviews. But because Eyre's last two are among my favorites, I decided to watch a few minutes, and am glad I did, though "The Other Man" did not measure up to "Stage Beauty" or "NotesI almost didn't view this film after reading the negative reviews. But because Eyre's last two are among my favorites, I decided to watch a few minutes, and am glad I did, though "The Other Man" did not measure up to "Stage Beauty" or "Notes on a Scandal." Like those films, it is interested in social constraints and the people who violate them. Here, the constraint is marital fidelity, which Peter (Neeson) never questions, even as his wife Lisa (Linney) cavorts with Ralph (Banderas). Almost as soon as the film opens, Lisa is gone, though she remains a central presence, recollected by the men who loved her. Hearing a passionate voicemail message from Ralph on her phone, Peter becomes obsessed, first with discovering the identity of Lisa's lover and later with discrediting him. Yes, Peter's obsession and his frequent rages seem disproportionate to his injury, but, rather than flaws in the writing, these are clues that we have not yet seen the complete picture. As indeed we have not--at least until late in the film, when a missing puzzle piece appears, poses for a moment as a trick, then begins retroactively explicating what we have seen. This strategy works only because the film is extremely vague about time and causality. We see Lisa walk out the door with an overnight bag at night; then we see Peter angrily discarding her clothes in daylight, and we assume, based on cinematic convention, that (1) she has left him, and (2) little time has passed. Neither is a safe assumption in "The Other Man," and whether you enjoy the film rests largely upon whether you believe Eyre is cheating or skillfully playing with the assumptions we bring to the medium. I am more inclined toward the latter view, though I do find the "play" a bit clumsy. At 87 minutes, this film is too short for its material, the gaps that allow its sleight-of-hand larger than they should be. Great performances, though, and some interesting ideas, especially about beauty.… Expand

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BroyaxMay 20, 2018

Tiens, encore une histoire d'un mari cocu (légitimement) très énervé qui se met en devoir de retrouver le gougnafier indélicat, briseur de ménage... En vérité, le film est bien plus original que cela et peut compter sur l'opposition de styleTiens, encore une histoire d'un mari cocu (légitimement) très énervé qui se met en devoir de retrouver le gougnafier indélicat, briseur de ménage... En vérité, le film est bien plus original que cela et peut compter sur l'opposition de style et de tempérament d'un Banderas et d'un Neeson, très à l'aise dans leurs personnages respectifs.

De cette originalité découle sans doute une guimauve un brin appuyée et une révélation qui tarde à être révélée, nous laissant dans une expectative inattendue, car le film abuse des retours en arrière ; de même, des facilités au niveau du scénario sont éminemment discutables à dire vrai...

Cependant, le film tient encore debout entre nostalgie, regrets et rancoeur, jalousie et chagrin... une foultitude de sentiments que nos deux acteurs parviennent à rendre avec force et finesse à la fois. Il s'agit finalement davantage d'un mélo que d'autre chose mais globalement suffisamment bien fait pour qu'on y croit, via une mise en scène posée et bien fichue. Original donc et intéressant malgré ses quelques maladresses.… Expand

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DawdlingPoetNov 27, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I was pleasantly surprised with this film, as I felt it was really quite gripping and for some reason I hadn't expected too much of it. Perhaps thats because I presumed it to be a fairly basic action film, when its much more of a psychological thriller, as already mentioned. For me, it was the two main characters - their dialogue, their personalities and the way they attempt to read each other or otherwise 'out-do' each other, that kept me second guessing and that I felt added the most to the film in general (if that makes any sense).

There are some nice landscape/panoramic shots shown at times, of Italy, so the cinematography is certainly worth mentioning, as is the use of music. There's a heavy use or reliance even, on instrumental music thats almost constantly used during the film, particularly at the start of the film, when I felt that, if anything, the use of music was a bit too overbearing, a bit too loud and over the top perhaps. It certainly adds to the general atmosphere as well as the tone of certain scenes. The plot is certainly, at essence, unoriginal but that doesn't matter too much as the characterisations and performances are good. Some parts of the film are quite sad, due to the storyline - its certainly emotive, so it may be an idea to have tissues at the ready incase you get tearful, as thats certainly possible. I found it hard not to feel sadness and anger at certain key points and there are also some real nail biting moments too as well, as I've alluded to.

One thing I noticed is that the chronology was a little confusing. What I mean by that is there were/are clearly scenes set months apart and with one or two characters, I got a bit muddled at times in terms of whenabouts the scene was supposed to be set but it didn't spoil my overall enjoyment of the film.

Overall, I found this to be a gripping, emotionally charged film with some twists and decent performances by the main cast, so I enjoyed it. I should perhaps also point out that it has a fairly short TRT (total running time) of just under one hour and a half - about an hour and 25 minutes in total I think, or thereabouts, so its not an extremely long drawn out thriller, which I like given I tend to find it harder to stick to and notice all that needs to be noticed in much longer films over two hours long. If I were to get really snooty, I could also say that when I thought about it, I wasn't especially keen on the films title either - 'The Other Man', its a bit bland and made me think of the short drama series starring James Corden that was BBC2 on the other year (or was that called The Wrong Men? potato, po-tat-o(!)) but yes, that is me being a bit of a nitpick, I admit that.

Yes I'd recommend this film. I thought it was quite gripping/absorbing, emotionally charged and featured good performances from both Liam Neeson and Antonio Banderas. The musical score may be over used somewhat and it isn't exactly the most original or unique of films overall I concede but for what it is, its certainly worth a watch, so I'm recommending it on that basis.… Expand

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