Chloe (Atom Egoyan, 2009): France/Canada

Reviewed by Rowan-George Smith.  Viewed at the Metro 4, Santa Barbara Film Festival.

Cunning Hot Lustful Observant Enticing

Chloe, a wildly twisted and erotic film directed by Canadian Atom Egoyan, is a complex thriller with a stellar performance from the gorgeous Julianne Moore.  Joined by Irish actor, Liam Neeson and Amanda Seyfried in the title role.

Set in Toronto, Catherine (Julianne Moore), a doctor becomes insecure about the attention David (Liam Neeson), her husband, a music professor displays towards his female students.  She suspects him of cheating.  Enter Chloe (Amanda Seyfried), a sexy prostitute, with no life but her work.  Catherine hires Chloe to simply meet her husband and instructs her to only talk with him.  When Chloe reports back, Catherine wants her to see David again.  Chloe then meets with Catherine and confides to her about her recent intimate involvement she had with her husband.  She shares all the specific details as if Catherine is her best friend.  Catherine is fumed at Chloe and says, “I didn’t tell you to do that.”  This business transaction becomes too involved, yet Catherine continues it as she becomes obsessed with Chloe’s stories and vicariously lives through them in a puzzling way.  This arrangement between these women intensifies and Catherine finds herself allured by the vampy and demented Chloe, she attempts to pull away to Chloe’s dismay, telling her, “This business transaction is over!”  This transaction has only just begun.

Liam Neeson lost his wife Natasha Richardson (almost a year ago), in a skiing accident while he was shooting this film.  The brave and handsome Irish actor continued his work on Chloe one week after the tragic accident.  Neeson portrays David honestly as a loving father and husband.  He strikes gold with both Moore and Seyfried, with magnetic chemistry with both leading ladies.  He displays thoughtfulness, grace and great sincerity in this role.  Julianne Moore shines as Catherine, the insecure wife and good doctor, she depicts great vulnerability and sensitivity to this character.  She’s sexy, smart, and her work is more than memorizing.  Moore delivers an authentic performance; we see the great range this gem of an actress embodies.  And the great thing about Moore, she is definitely a risk taker though and though.  The recently famed Amanda Seyfried gave a decent interpretation as Chloe, however, her delivery often felt labored and predictable.  Overall, her performance was banal, but in great company, she managed to look good.  A more seasoned or established actress would have been preferred, like Lauren Ambrose, Scarlette Johansson, or Mena Suvari.

Chloe is based on the French film Nathalie, directed by Anne Fontaine, and Erin Cressida Wilson wickedly wrote this screenplay.  Chloe director, Atom Egoyan takes the story to Toronto and acknowledges the city throughout the film.  This was his first film fully financed outside of Canada, making it the first foreign-financed film to shoot in Toronto.  It was refreshing to see modern day Toronto beautifully captured by cinematographer Paul Sarossy.  Now it’s much clearer as to why the film was set in Toronto.  Egoyan also a master of directing opera productions brilliantly incorporates opera-like styles into this dangerous liaison.