The Room Next Door (#641)


The most recent movie I saw starred two women I really don't like at all, but they and the film were excellent.  And unlike the near silent film I saw before this, Wolf Man, THE ROOM NEXT DOOR sparkled with intelligent dialogue.  It was beautifully acted, well written and well directed, but it had one problem, at least for me. It was likely the most depressing movie I remember seeing, because from almost the very beginning you knew what was going to happen, and it never deviated from that theme. Tilda Swinton, as a reporter for The New York Times who covers wars, and Julianne Moore, as a successful novelist, are old friends, having worked on the same magazine when younger, who haven't seen one another in ages, reunite when one visits the other in the hospital. Trying not to reveal more of the story is difficult, but they begin to see a lot of one another and talk about the fact that they both had an affair with the same man, played by John Turturro, who is still seeing one of them. I'm certain, if you read other review of this film, you know exactly what I'm trying not to write because I want you to see the film and discover for yourself. Is that confusing enough for you?  82% of critics and 76% of audiences joined me in giving this a thumbs up.  Incidentally, Tilda Swinton had the best lines in the film, and I still think Julianne Moore is a wimp.   

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