Derailed (2005)

How exciting! Jennifer Aniston in a thriller—and it's not a Leprechaun sequel! This movie got quite a bit of hype, and rightfully so. It's actually really good, so get out there and rent it this weekend!A good-looking man meets a good-looking woman on a train. The trouble is, they're both married. But, the attraction is so powerful, they can't resist it. No sooner do they check into a motel together does the door get bashed in—and a despicable criminal enters their lives.This thriller is full of twists and turns, and it's amazing that Jennifer Aniston ever took a comic role after her wonderful performance. Seriously, go rent it on your next spooky girls' weekend. If you have any hesitation, here's a funny quote from Jennifer Aniston during the 2009 Crystal and Lucy Awards: "There seems to be a strange parallel between the movies I'm doing and my life off-screen. It started with 'The Good Girl,' then of course 'Rumor Has It,' followed by 'Derailed.' Then there was 'The Break Up.' "If any of you have a project entitled 'Everlasting Love With A Stable Adult Male' I'm at table 6 and my agents are at table 12."Kiddy Warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, there may or may not be a rape scene, so I wouldn't let my kids watch it.

2005's "Derailed" tells the story of a man (Clive Owen) who's obviously lost passion for his wife and is dealing with the stress of a daughter with serious medical problems. On the train to work he starts a relationship with a woman (Jennifer Aniston) which slowly veers toward adultery. Things go from bad to worse. Vincent Cassel is featured as the love-to-hate villain.I mainly judge films by whether or not they pull you in and hold your attention. "Derailed" does this in spades. I was also impressed with the writing. Although another reviewer panned the writing as "unbelievable tripe" and "horribly written" the story struck me in a totally opposite manner. Okay, maybe parts of the story are unbelievable, in particular the ending's prison surprise, but how many movies today are truly believable? Some have criticized the story as predictable but I was surprised and impressed by the turns the film takes. And I never saw it coming.I'm not going to say anymore because the less you know the better. Stay away from the reviews that (without warning) give away the entire plot!"Derailed" is a top-of-the-line thriller/drama.GRADE: A

Chicago advertising executive Clive Owen (as Charles "Charlie" Schine) says good-bye to his beautiful, but busy schoolteacher wife and helps his diabetic daughter with her book report. "The author intrigues the reader by twisting the narrative," he explains, "so you never know what's coming next." On his way to work, Mr. Owen meets attractive financial adviser Jennifer Aniston (as Lucinda Harris), after checking out her sexy legs. Owen asks Ms. Aniston to lunch and the two contemplate copulation. In a trashy motel, their naughty foreplay is interrupted by nasty Vincent Cassel (as LaRoche)..."Derailed" is a nicely produced thriller, playing on the guilt associated with thoughts of infidelity. Director Mikael Hafstrom really keeps it moving. His seedy hotel and Chicago street sequences are a highlight. Even if you figure out what's going on, the story is engaging. Still, you've got to wonder why Owen seems willing to put his daughter's life in danger for a non-affair; most parents would go to the police, if their child was threatened with death. An expiration in prison is superfluous, also. More scenes involving suspicious detective Giancarlo Esposito (as Church) would have been welcome.****** Derailed (11/11/05) Mikael Hafstrom ~ Clive Owen, Jennifer Aniston, Vincent Cassel, Giancarlo Esposito

5/10 Good story line but not something you will rave about to your friends the next day.The story had a lot of potential but the slow start and really weak and unrealistic ending really brought the movie down. The ending was so ill thought out it was comical.The affair couple have the same expression on their face the entire movie; dull personality and dull expressions.It's a decent movie to have a quiet night at home and relax to with a glass of wine with a loved one. Chances of the male falling asleep are about 65%. I struggled to keep my man awake for the first half of the movie.To sum it up; if its free and there is nothing else on give it a go, if you miss it you aren't missing out on much.