And at the centre of it all is Lane’s blistering turn
as the unfaithful Connie Sumner, for whom the affair marks a
sexual reawakening and a chance to feel young again. The actress,
who was featured on the cover of Time magazine at the age of
12, has largely been forced to play second fiddle in movies,
but here seizes her opportunity with relish.
It is a performance of sizzling intensity and one which is
sure to leave audiences divided as her obsession for the young
French lover leads to the type of lies and deception which threaten
to destroy the lives of everyone around her.
Gere, too, continues to show a newfound maturity as an actor;
wrestling with his emotions as the realisation that his wife
is having an affair slowly dawns upon him. His reaction is as
surprising as it is understandable and serves to fuel the moral
debate which rages throughout.
Lyne’s direction is also assured, allowing things to build
slowly, while asking all sorts of questions of its viewers,
and the movie also refrains from drifting into mawkish sentimentality,
treating its audience as adults throughout.
The result is both steamy and provocative throughout and makes
for compulsive viewing.
