neumu [ cinematronic ]




	Le Divorce
	James Ivory Kate Hudson, Naomi Watts, Glenn Close, Leslie Caron, Matthew Modine, Stockard Channing, Bebe Neuwirth, Stephen Fry, Thierry Lhermitte, Sam Waterston, Nathalie Richard, Melvil Poupaud, Jean-Marc Barr, Romain Duris, Samuel Labarthe, Thomas Lennon 2003		Its cast (which includes Kate Hudson, Naomi Watts, Glenn Close, Leslie Caron, Matthew Modine, Stockard Channing, Bebe Neuwirth, Stephen Fry and Thierry Lhermitte) and its setting (beautifully, eternally photogenic Paris) hold such promise that it's near impossible to imagine the modern comedy of manners "Le Divorce" succumbing to "l'ennui." Yet, that's what happens now and again, as "Le Divorce" runs its two hours on the screen. Naïve, pretty American Isabel Walker (Hudson) flies to Paris to be with her sister Roxy (Watts), a poet who's pregnant by her French husband Charles-Henri. Despite Roxy's condition, Charles-Henri dumps her for another woman. Divorce is in the air, but the French in-laws are unfazed. Charles-Henri's married uncle (Lhermitte), a diplomat, actually has an affair with the much younger Isabel. Meanwhile, a painting owned by the Walker family and kept by Roxy may be worth a fortune, muddling a divorce settlement. Although it's a contemporary tale, it's directed lugubriously by James Ivory of the Merchant-Ivory team, known for literary period films such as "Room With a View." With its scandalous behavior, fab actors and locale, "Le Divorce" deserved a livelier touch.