Weekly Review -- Choose to watch or be watched

Watching the Detectives (2007) -- If you are looking for a rosy, clichéd lovefest, look elsewhere now. The thing is, I do not understand why you would be, when a film like Watching the Detectives is in existence. This Paul Soter film is a quirky, cheerful romantic comedy, with vibrant characters and playful timing. Neil (Cillian Murphy) owns a video store specializing in elusive, off-the-beaten-path gems. Content with his routine, he lives for and through cinema, something that irks his girlfriend Denise (Heather Burns), who soon becomes his ex. Quietly moving on, Neil keeps up his sedentary odyssey until the mysterious Violet (Lucy Liu) walks into the store and starts animating his life, one exciting moment after another... There is no doubt that the performances make the film. Murphy is a charming delight as Neil, who finds himself on the edge of his comfort zone and afraid to fall into uncharted territory. Unbeknownst to himself, he is quite ready to do so, and Murphy is at his most endearing when Neil is at his most confused. Liu has plenty of comedic talent, demonstrating true range. The restaurant scene shows some of the best acting I have ever seen the actor do and her Violet is a breath of fresh air in the history of female characters. Murphy and Liu have genuine, whimsical chemistry, their encounters being devilishly entertaining and unlike anything you have ever seen. Sure, there are a couple of over-the-top elements, such as the case of Violet's ex, but they fade in comparison to the points that the film makes, the fun that the screenplay is having and, most of all, how happy and inspired it will leave you afterward. For the simple reason that one could always use more joy in their life, you owe it to yourself to see Watching the Detectives.

8/10