Romantic thriller 'Wicker Park' is refreshingly true to its French connection

The French Cinema has a long-standing tradition for a kind of movie that has never quite taken root in Hollywood: the romantic thriller. These films play what is basically a soap-opera situation as a fast-paced melodrama, with much action and duplicity but no felony committed.

MOVIE REVIEW

WICKER PARK

DIRECTOR: Paul McGuigan

CAST: Josh Hartnett, Rose Byrne, Diane Kruger, Matthew Lillard

RUNNING TIME: 115 minutes

RATING: PG-13 for sexuality and language

WHERE: Alderwood 7, Cinema 17, Crossroads 8, East Valley 13, Everett 9, Factoria, Galaxy Tacoma 6, Gateway 8, Issaquah 9, Longston Place 14, Marysville Cinema 14, Meridian 16, Monroe 12, Mountlake 9, Oak Tree, Parkway Plaza 12, Redmond Town Center, Woodinville 12

GRADE: B

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The 1996 French film "L'Appartement," which involved Romane Bohringer, Vincent Cassel, Monica Bellucci and others in a round robin of sexual obsession, was a pretty good example of this distinct kind of psychological romantic thriller.

And surprisingly, "Wicker Park" -- its engaging Americanized remake -- is a very straight translation, with its complex, non-linear structure intact and none of the goofy comedy or lurid embellishments that have found their way into previous Hollywood clones of the genre.

It's the story of Matt (Josh Hartnett), a young Chicago investment banker who fell madly in love with Lisa (Diane Kruger, Helen of "Troy"), a dancer who after a brief but intense fling with him suddenly and inexplicably vanished from his life.

Two years later, he's still not over her but he's engaged to another woman, has rebuilt his life and is about to embark on a business trip to China when he catches a fleeting glimpse of Lisa and abruptly drops everything in his life to track her down.

After this lengthy setup, the movie does a big switch to the point of view of another character (Rose Byrne) and starts hopping around time and space to put a whole different perspective on Matt's story and explore a chain of characters linked in romantic obsession.

The film is challenging: so complex and meandering that it often takes some effort to stay with it. And when it's done, you can think back on at least one major coincidence in its narrative blueprint that strains credulity to the breaking point.

But the young audience at the film's Seattle preview earlier this week seemed to be with it all the way, vocally responding to its plot twists and moments of humor, and appreciative of the fact that it was going wildly against expectations.

British director Paul McGuigan ("The Reckoning") is not quite able to bring off the script's high-art aspirations (it half wants to be "Vertigo") and Hartnett is not enough of an actor to nail his character with a great deal of depth or compelling psychological fascination.

But the film is stylish, the compromising elements that usually junk up a Hollywood "date movie" are nowhere to be seen, the ensemble of supporting actors is strong and, despite a certain woodenness, Hartnett is appealing and mostly very believable.

"Wicker Park" also makes particularly good use of its setting. Atmosphere and mood are vital to a romantic thriller, and the filmmakers skillfully use the cocoon of a snowy Chicago winter to give their story a feel that is both wonderfully cozy and very threatening.

P-I movie critic William Arnold can be reached at 206-448-8185 or williamarnold@seattlepi.com