Clever Storytelling Behind "Sliding Doors"
Did you ever wonder what might have been if you had just made it through the intersection before the light turned red? Made it on to a bus just before it left? Made it on to the train just before the sliding doors closed behind you? How might your destiny change in a moment's time?
For Helen (Gwyneth Paltrow), her future will take on two completely different paths determined entirely in a split second. And the audience gets to see them both. If she catches the awaiting train, she will go home to her boyfriend, Gerry (John Lynch) who is a meek bloke and an uninspired novelist. She will also catch him in bed with his old girlfriend, Lydia (Jeanne Triplehorne). If she misses the train, she'll wind up hailing a taxi, becoming the victim of a mugging, and returning home too late to discover Gerry's infidelity. In essence, what we will see are two parallel stories, and so the question you have to ask is whether both of them are interesting.
In Scenario 1 (she catches Gerry and Lydia in bed), Helen will meet up with charming James (John Hannah), with whom she will eventually fall in love. They are a likable couple and their developing bond is engaging. He inspires her to start her own company and take control of her own life rather than sacrificing it all for Gerry. Scenario 2 (she comes home too late) is a little more convoluted as Gerry goes to great lengths to hide Lydia's presence despite Helen's growing suspicions. Comparing the two timelines, the love story is by far more enjoyable and cute because you could sense the chemistry between Helen and James. Their story was engaging. But in the other scenario, I couldn't quite understand Gerry's fatal attraction to Lydia. His constant efforts to hide Lydia's existence from Helen seemed more like comedic foolishness. For example, when Helen arrives home just after Lydia leaves, a surprised Gerry leaps onto a pillow to remove Lydia's earring which was left behind. Then, he darts over to the dresser to hide one of the brandy glasses that the two were using. All the while, he is nervously trying to deflect any suspicions. Helen is far too smart for this kind of defense.
"Sliding Doors" is a cleverly constructed story that is far more complicated and impressive in structure than in content. The movie is edited well, making a smooth transition between the two timelines. It is easy to tell which scenario we are watching and despite the constant switching, we do not lose focus as to what's going on. Hannah is charming and Paltrow delivers a very competent performance and carries the weight of this movie on her shoulders with confidence. If only the material was worthy of her efforts...
Grade: B-
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