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Elisha Cuthbert is an amazing talent

Charles Pierce II | Santa Clara, CA, USA | 12/08/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"While Elisha Cuthbert is "only" the love interest and doesn't have the lead role, her talent overshadows all the other performances and is in a different league. As a whole, the film is well acted, well directed and has a polished feel to it. But a silly premise and a storyline riddled with obvious logical gaps take the movie down to a two star level. What rescues this movie from mediocrity is Ms. Cuthbert's performance. Her acting range is amazing, making her an American version of Audrey Tautou, who's been credible in an stunning variety of roles. From cynical, bitter, trapped porn star to love-touched girl friend, Ms. Cuthbert takes each of her scenes to five stars. It's not her pretty body that lingers in the mind, but her evocative facial expressions. I hope she finds a path to mainstream Hollywood, which she richly deserves. Emile Hirsch is a good actor stuck with a challenging part and he manages some chemistry with Ms. Cuthbert, but he isn't in the same league. So why watch the movie? For the chance to see Elisha Cuthbert turn in a performance comparable to a legend like Barbara Stanwyck, who elevated many a corny B movie to A level, by virtue of her acting skills. Without Ms. Stanwyck, Double Indemnity would be a strange curiousity instead of film noir virtuosity. Elisha Cuthbert has the same level of raw talent."