re:mote voices

Title: Wicker Park
Cast: Josh Hartnett, Rose Byrne, Matthew Lillard, Diane Kruger, Christopher Cousins, Jessica Paré
Director: Paul McGuigan

Wicker Park is a curiously titled remake of the French classic L'Appartment. Starring Josh Hartnett as a man preparing to get engaged to a woman, when he thinks he spots the woman who disappeared from his life two years ago. Billed as an introductory role, Diane Kruger, who played Helen in Troy, plays Lisa, the girl Hartnett's character was obsessed by. Putting his current life/relationship on the line he determines to track down Lisa. Instead he finds Rose Byrne, also called Lisa, wearing the same perfume and the same shoes. This results in a psychological spiral, where the characters revolve around each other with a mix of flash backs which build up the story. As a remake there are of course differences from the original, this version going for a greater deal of clarity, and no doubt a more up ending. Other than that, as a composition the film is well constructed, some nice touches, and a well integrated sound track. In terms of soundtrack, the inclusion of music by the Icelandic Mum is particularly striking. As for the more incidental music, composition is by Cliff Martinez, who has done a number of soundtracks - most prominently Solaris, parallels in sound being evident between Solaris and Wicker Park. Another nice touch is the subtle reference to the original version.