Brian Bloom (Anton Yelchin) is a struggling writer in Manhattan living in isolation until he spots Arielle (Bérénice Marlohe) across the street. She's french and smoking. She offers to see him from 5 to 7. Later, she reveals that she's married with two kids. In France, 5 to 7 is code for having an affair and they start one. Arielle's husband Valery (Lambert Wilson) invites him to a dinner party where he's introduced to Valery's mistress Jane (Olivia Thirlby). Jane becomes his editor. Sam (Frank Langella) and Arlene (Glenn Close) are Brian's Jewish parents.
The start is great. The flirtations are wonderful. That first act is a delight. On the other hand, the affair is blasé. If neither of the married couple care about each other's affairs, the drama and the stakes become quite low. I couldn't wait for the inevitable melodrama to begin simply to get out of the detached superiority. There are moments of light comedy. They are not big laughs but slight quirkiness. I wouldn't call it boring. It's quite interesting but it's not exciting. Above all, there is a light beauty to everything. There could be more poignancy if Arielle could show more passion early in the affair but the overwrought score at the end simply accentuates what could have been in both the movie and the relationship.
The start is great. The flirtations are wonderful. That first act is a delight. On the other hand, the affair is blasé. If neither of the married couple care about each other's affairs, the drama and the stakes become quite low. I couldn't wait for the inevitable melodrama to begin simply to get out of the detached superiority. There are moments of light comedy. They are not big laughs but slight quirkiness. I wouldn't call it boring. It's quite interesting but it's not exciting. Above all, there is a light beauty to everything. There could be more poignancy if Arielle could show more passion early in the affair but the overwrought score at the end simply accentuates what could have been in both the movie and the relationship.