Derailed (7.5/10)

"Derailed" is not a original movie, but it plays to it's smarts. It carefully builds up characters and atmosphere before the plot really kicks in, from then on out it's a thrill ride. However that ride that starts off so smart turns into something far fetched and chaos prone. The film ends as a different one then the one it started as.

Charles (Clive Owen) is a married man with problems. His child has type 1 diabetes and needs alot of care. There's actually a fantastic scene when Charles helps her daughter study but something will happen where it shows that the family doesn't live a normal one because of the disorder. His wife (Melissa George) is becoming distant, he thinks so at least. I'd say they're some other things on their mind that has priority over their deeper connection. They still love each other, but the spark is gone. Enter Lucinda (Jennifer Aniston) who he meets on a train. The two build up their relationship hell bent on a affair. I don't want to say much more but a violent blackmailer and criminal (Vincent Cassel, when isn't he playing his character to perfection) that will tear apart the lives as the two.

The movie is seems believable for the most part, but the ending will ruin that. The twists and turns though are quite exciting and while may be guessed before hand, their nature may be more than you expected. I found myself more interested in the criminal LaRoche then the Charles and Lucinda. I don't know, Cassel brings a charm to all his performances, he makes things better. Vincent Cassel, Peter Sarsgaard, Sam Rockwell, Cillian Murphy, Jeremy Renner, Daniel Mays and John Hawkes have that quality. Anything they touch is better for it. "Derailed" may not be something new, but it works well with what it has for a while.

7.5/10
Recommendation: Pretty standard movie, fans of the actors (this includes a supporting role by RZA) will like it. It's not great but I don't see any reason not to give it a shot.