Search - Nina Takes a Lover on DVD

Easy, Breezy, Beautiful...Crying Girl?

Shannon Lilia | Chicagoland, USA | 10/02/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Feeling this storyline, hearing the rain as if it were outside my window and having my heart race according to the beat of each character's affairs was as lush and satisfying as it gets for me, an avid, observant film lover. Any book, song or movie that makes me cry a good deep from the heart sob is "A-OK" in my book. I LOOOOOVE this movie. It captures the city, the characters and an artsy, cool quirkiness and works it all to delicious advantage. The story is about a married woman, Nina telling the background, circumstances and resultant residues of an affair that shook her married life to a gentle, curious interviewer with time to listen and questions to softly ask toward healing and understanding. Why, how, who and for how long are the questions that subtly beg to be unfolded along the way. The acting is easy and down to earth. You feel like maybe you're watching the characters from across the store, from the booth next door or from the other side of the park. The surprising ending will hit you in the gut if you are a romantic. The realism found in the relationships was what made this one of my top ten of all time favorites. Laura San Giacomo is a nuanced genius in love stories and I wanted what she had by the end of the movie. I can't tell what that is because it'll ruin it for those of you who haven't viewed it yet. For those who have, it is all we could hope for in all it's sordid abandon. I think. (sigh)"

Not quite a red delicious

Brian Almquist | Iowa City, IA USA | 10/26/2000

(2 out of 5 stars)

"In the early part of this film, Nina (Laura San Giacomo) tries to attract the attention of a handsome young man in a leather jacket. She bites down loudly (cue sound effect) on an amazingly fresh, crunchy, meaty apple.As opposed to this film, which, in apple terms, has blotchy tone, a mealy taste, and a sickeningly mushy interior. Not quite rotten to the core, enjoyable if you're really craving an apple.So, the good: Christi Conaway and Fisher Stevens are amusing in secondary roles. There are some amusing scenes, and there is a kind-of surprising twist towards the end.Kind of good, kind of bad: Laura San Giacomo, who wields her galactically expressive face like a blunt axe, sometimes hits her scenes perfectly, and other times indiscriminately pauses for annoying effect. Paul Rhys, who prior to this played "The Responsible Brother of Insanely Talented Men" (Vincent & Theo, Chaplin), is supposed to be handsome and mysterious, but he often seems to be overacting his underacting.Bad, bad, bad: The framing device of the journalist interviewing the characters of this story for their take on infidelity. Also bad -- the setting, the lame conclusion of the panty-swiping gag, and some really badly written "serious" dialogue.Recommended for Laura San Giacomo fetishists, or people that really want to see a relationship drama, but have run out of other options."

A True Refreshing "Love" Story

cyead1978 | Orinda, CA United States | 05/04/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Not only the beautiful imagery and the thrill of a realistic love story, the best thing I found in this film was the shocking ending. Throughout the entire film I had no idea what this all was leading up to. If for nothing else see this movie to find out the hidden twist in the plot!"

I don't get it . . . but my wife does.

arganon | mid-atlantic | 08/13/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This is a hard one for me to review. On one hand I like the "surprise" ending because it was a surprise . . . at least to me. (Interestingly enough, my wife surmised the ending as the plot unfolded. Hmmm?) On the other hand it left me kind of flat. "Surprise-ending" movies are usually GREAT because there are so many tired storylines to have to live through. But, once the "surprise" was revealed I kind of felt, not quite cheated, but I didn't get full satisfaction either. It was like, "big whoop", I'm not sure I really care.

The movie has its charm because it feels very intimate; all nice cozy. The acting is pretty good and keeps the viewer interested throughout the piece. But . . . then again there is that "but" for me. It's all OK , but I just didn't get the payoff I felt this movie was leading up too. Maybe it's the "guy-thing" in me that just isn't getting it? I think there's something in there that I must be missing? There are a lot of good things about this picture so on that I rate it 3 stars. But . . ."