Unexpected thriller of the J Lo kind (Enough (DVD))

Member Name: Happyjaw

Product:	Enough (DVD)
Date:	05/01/09 (71 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fist clenchingly tense

Disadvantages: Some predictable moments

Jennifer Lopez stars in this unexpectedly gripping film from 2002. It's a slow and slightly disjointed beginning where Jennifer Lopez appears as a single waitress, Slim Hiller, who is rescued by a chivalrous male when a customer makes moves on her, based on a bet.

The scenes very quickly jump through the wedding, her concerns of having made the right choice and wanting to be sure she can love her new husband fully.
We see them rapidly whizz through settling in a new home, having a baby and seeing the child grow before Mitch (Bill Campbell) begins to behave more distantly.
Much of the acting is subtle here, little moments of naturalistic behaviour where someone stares off into space when they should be entranced with special moments in family life and the furrowed brow and over compensation of the indulgent parent who notices the increasing distance.

The earliest scenes are well lit, sunshine is evident, happiness is frequent and it helps highlight the changes when Mitch begins to decline into a cheating and wife beating control freak. Later, scenes are darker, shadows are used as weapons, places to hide and which seriously up the anti in terms of suspense and contrast to the early sunshine.

It is at this point when the film shot up in my estimation, from a straight to DVD flop to a sadly underestimated champion thriller. Bill Campbell's portrayal of the sickening, manipulative and violent husband is really unsettling. He is sneaky, one step ahead of every step his wife makes and with threats hanging over her head like the sword of Damocles, preventing positive action at every turn. She is trapped and with her the audience, hands clenched in tension as the film unfolds.

I've never seen Jennifer Lopez in anything other than romantic slush or other secondary or fluffy roles, this is the best I've seen of her acting ability. It is easy to sympathise with her confusion as her husband begins to turn away from her and easier still to empathise when she is first struck. Her role remains strong throughout the film and it really made me feel alarm and concern as each incident occurs.

I'm not familiar with Bill Campbell but for such an attractive man he is truly fearsome in the role of the vile husband. He appears verbally dynamic, able to make everything go his way, when and how he wants, this is illustrated early on when he approaches a house and tells the unsuspecting owner that he wants to buy it. When told it isn't for sale he responds that he can be a pushy pain for a long time to come and still get the house or the guy can just sell up now, he then offers an above market price, from there we skip to the couple now living in the house with their daughter, clearly Mitch got his way. It isn't so much a sign of things to come but a clear signifier of his self confidence and intentions if anyone fails to comply.

There's far more which happens, it's a fast paced film after the first quarter, much happens to involve other characters, those sympathetic to Slim's plight, her work colleagues and friends who try to rescue her and an old college friend. Then there are those working at the controlled behest of Mitch and his unlimited funds, they are intent on violence and destruction, working outside the law and hell bent on obeying the instruction of their terrifying boss.

In supporting roles are Juliette Lewis and Noah Wyle. Juliette in a good illustrative role as a friend who seems even more frail and incapable of helping Slim than Slim herself. Noah Wyle is in a surprisingly small role given his more recent successes and shows sides of his acting ability previously untapped in his career, it comes as a surprise.

It isn't a film for those easily disturbed, it is incredibly tense at times. There are one or two predictable moments but that does not detract from the overall tension and emotive performances.

If you find it on DVD, it is well worth a watch.

Summary: Tense thriller with J Lo as a victim of domestic abuse