The original name is Wicker park, which could be translated as “Wicker Park”, but Russian distributors preferred a simpler option. Perhaps this was the right move, since the name of the park will say little to the Russian audience, but the word "obsession" attracts passion and mystery to cinemas. Despite conflicting reviews of the film, the Obsession of 2004 is constantly on the list of films with the most unexpected endings, the best detective stories, and, of course, the best pictures of love.
Plot
The main character named Matthew is a talented businessman who is not used to losing. Good luck accompanies him until he meets his former beloved Lisa. Two years ago, she suddenly, without explanation, disappeared from his life. As the hero did not try to find her and explain, he did not succeed. Through friends he learns that the girl went on a tour of Europe. He is upset and offended, but continues to wait for her every day at the place where their dates usually took place.
Once Matthew, already engaged to another, notices Lisa in one of the restaurants, and it seems to him that fate has given him the long-awaited chance to find out. However, he does not even imagine what a dangerous game gets involved. Not only his business, but his life is at stake, because the girl is not at all who she claims to be.
Matthew lies to his bride, ignores a working trip to go to the hotel, whose address he finds on the card dropped by the mysterious girl. In the issue, he finds things similar to those that belonged to Lisa, and it remains to wait for her, but another comes. She convinces him that it was her whom he saw in the restaurant. The resemblance to his ex-girlfriend is so striking that Matthew falls in love with a stranger who introduced herself as Alex. They spend the night together.
The hero begins to overcome doubts. It seems to him that Alex is still Lisa. He returns to the hotel room, but discovers it is completely empty. To prove his theory, he buys the same shoes that he gave to his girlfriend, but Alex they do not fit. At the same time, the real Lisa is also desperate for Matthew. Various obstacles interfere with their meeting every now and then. They do not even suspect that all this is just a game played by the cruel friend of Lisa - Alex. It was she who set up their separation two years ago.
History of creation
The film "Obsession" in 2004 appeared thanks to the director Paul McGuigan. The original title more subtly conveys the essence of the film. Wicker Park is the place where the main characters Matthew and Lisa meet, performed by Josh Hartnett and Diana Kruger. Such a park really exists, it is located in Chicago and gained fame thanks to numerous boutiques and dance floors.
Two years later, McGuigan will be entrusted with the shooting of one of the most famous paintings of his time - “The Lucky Number of Slevin”, so that “Obsession” can be considered his leap into the world of big cinema. The story of creation originates in the novel of the English author Anthony Bayette with the intriguing title “Possess”. In 1943, the first film was shot on it. For the director Luchino Visconti and the whole Italian cinema, the picture became a cult, as it was the first to be shot in the special atmosphere of Italian neorealism.
In 1992, the work of Neil Labyut was released on cinema screens, starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Aaron Eckhart. Unlike the first film adaptation, where the plot is built around the vicious relationship of the wife of the inn owner and the beautiful tramp, the second tells the story of two historians who so eagerly read each other's romantic letters of the 19th century, which led to mutual love.
Their versions in 2006 and 2012 were shot by Anne Turner and Steve Schill, in both cases they adhered to all the features of the thriller genre. Excellent reviews of the 2004 film “Obsession” confirm that the picture came out no worse, but in many ways better than its predecessors of the same name. It differs from them in the atypical construction of a love triangle and the absence of special cruelty. The detailing of the scenes of the film is blurred, which makes it seem like the whole puzzle is assembled from separate but carefully selected pieces.
Josh Hartnett as Matthew
An excellent feature of the movie "Obsession" 2004 - actors who are perfectly matched. Handsome Joshua Hartnett evokes sympathy and compassion. The viewer unconsciously wants him to succeed - he found his love, and they lived happily ever after.
The brown-eyed brown became famous after the release of "Pearl Harbor" - the acclaimed blockbuster of 2001. Although true connoisseurs of cinema noticed Hartnett for the role of Trip Fontaine in the dark drama “Virgin Suicides” and the vivid thriller “Faculty”. Of course, he will have to prove his worth as an actor more than once, but, according to critics, he has a chance to shine in the starry sky of Hollywood.
Diana Krueger as Lisa
Burning blonde Diana Krueger is another successful find for the cast of the movie “Obsession”. She was born in Germany on July 15, 1976 in an ordinary family of a bank employee and IT specialist. But the simple origin did not stop her from becoming one of the most popular actresses and models of our time and to smash the stereotype of the low attractiveness of German women. She auditioned for a role in the movie The Fifth Element. And although Luke Besson did not choose her, he noted creative abilities and advised them to develop and devote himself to the film career completely.
The debut film for her was "Virtuoso" in 2002, but the real fame came precisely after the "Obsession". Thanks to the excellent performance and attractive appearance, it was Diane Krueger who chose from the more than three thousand applicants for the main role of the picture “Troy”.
Rose Brin as Alex
This talented actress is one of the main reasons for the rave reviews from the 2004 film Obsession. She was born July 24, 1979 in Australia. She began to study the profession of an actress at eight, and received her first role at nineteen. She became famous for a series of roles in the Australian TV series Fallen Angel, School of Broken Hearts, and many others.
She has played in such famous films as Star Wars, Monster, Troy, and Marie Antoinette. She also managed to work with Nicolas Cage on the set of The Signs. The girl’s talent was appreciated: Rose Bryn was nominated for an Emmy and Golden Globe.
Interesting Facts
Filming for the most part took place in Milan and Montreal.
The actor Paul Walker was initially approved for the role of the protagonist, but due to inconsistencies with the schedule of the movie “Fast and the Furious”, he had to refuse to participate in the project.
Joel Schumacher was supposed to shoot the film , but he refused.
Matthew drives a 1968 Ford Mustang.
In the final scene, Coldplay plays The Scientist.
Charges at the box office and half did not pay off the budget of the film "Obsession 2004", reviews from critics were mostly devastating. But the ordinary viewer, with trepidation related to intricate love stories and respecting the thriller as a genre, definitely liked the story. However, everyone draws a conclusion. On taste and color, as they say, there are no comrades.