Some may judge, others may question, but at their base, a mistress for hire is much more than what meets the eye. Take Chloe for instance, a young, provocative female who possess the charm and beauty to manipulate any man. But when the shoe is put on the other foot and she must satisfy a female client who wishes her to engage in a full-blown affair with her husband, things begin to get a little tricky.
When looking at the outer layer, Sony Pictures Classics' Chloe is nothing more than an affair gone wrong. Jealousy, rage and adulterous actions fill the screen from start to finish as the story's plotline steers straight ahead along a pre-determined path. The actions are seen from afar, and the forgone conclusion is apparent halfway through"”at least that is what director Atom Egoyan wants you to believe.
Instead of taking the generic path to normalcy, the film takes a hard swerve right, giving it an edge, complete with brutal honesty, that will send you to the front of your seat in anticipation for the next big reveal. The cinematography helps drastically in this realm of the film, as does the music "“ both of which add a mysterious layer to the already tense tone, ultimately creating a film that warrants your full attention.
Julianne Moore and Liam Neeson provide the basis for the film's recycled story, giving Amanda Seyfried's Chloe a reason to exist. And while all three prove their worth throughout the hour and a half feature, no one shocks the audience like Seyfried, who uses her mind and body to trick, mimic and tease her counterparts.
Chloe is a character-centered film that deals with the intimacy and emotional struggles of sex and lust. Luckily, all three actors envisioned their character's actions as an intoxicating way to get what they want, leaving little to the imagination in the process.
I will harp on the final moments, ones that are built up but never quite deliver as expected. The final confrontation leaves much to be desired, and is actually over before one can fully process what they are currently watching. Maybe I expected too much from the otherwise intriguing picture, but a small catfight would have left me with a smile. As it is, I sit here smirking, knowing that I enjoyed Chloe and all her assets, but realizing that, in truth, the film could have been so much more.
Seyfried does use her role to further diversify her still youthful career, and both Neeson and Moore give the film a sophisticated feel, teaching you that there are always consequences for acting a bit "˜friendly.'
