Writer: Roy Lim Jian-Min

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Watch this if you liked: "Anywhere But Here", “Rabbit Hole”, "High Fidelity"

Re-titled as "The Other Woman" for 2011 release, the 2009 movie revolves around Natalie Portman's Emilia Greenleaf, whose life suffers a heavy blow after the death of her newborn baby girl Isabel. Being her first child with husband Jack (Scott Cohen), Isabel's death becomes a constant painful reminder to Emilia up to the point when she almost had her paranoia takes control. However, the conflict appears in the form of Jack's ex-wife Carolyn (Lisa Kudrow) and Jack's son William (Charlie Tahan, "Charlie St. Cloud"). While Emilia's confrontation with Carolyn happened sporadically throughout the movie, William's constant mentioning of Isabel's death serves as the more difficult challenge for the grieving young mother.

Although based on a novel of the same title written by Ayelet Waldman, the plot is somehow parallel with a play adaptation movie "Rabbit Hole", starring Nicole Kidman in a similar fashion as Emilia's character in "Love And Other Impossible Pursuits". Both movies focuses on a parent's (in particularly mother) who is in denial and having trouble coping with their loss while at the same time, despises anyone who poses a justification towards the sore subject. The storyline is executed fairly and well-balanced, giving room for the core characters to develop. This is a moderately-paced drama that has the right amount of emotions.

Emilia might not be Portman's first maternal role but she flourishes from the role of an under-age mother in 2000's "Where The Heart Is" to dramatic motherly roles as seen in "Cold Mountain" as well as a mother to famous icons in "Star Wars Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith" and "The Other Boleyn Girl" prior to Emilia Greenleaf in the movie. Nothing less can be expected of her performance as William's step mother and Jack's second wife, who is always ostracized as a 'homewrecker'. Interesting enough to know that Portman also serves as the executive producer of the movie, listing another remarkable title to her array of filmography. Meanwhile, Tahan is indeed a small package that has bigger talents inside it as his portrayal as William is both adorable and emotion-inducing at the same time. Portman and Tahan's chemistry in the film help delivers and move the whole story. Credits could also be given to "Friends" actress Lisa Kudrow who appears in a total opposite towards her comedy series character as a bitter, angry ex-wife and an overbearing, possessive mother to William.

Just like "Rabbit Hole", the very same theme is applied to this movie and the director tackles the message in a very clear-cut manner, making it impossible for an emotional movie like this to go wrong.
"Love And Other Impossible Pursuits" will suit the taste of movie fans who love drama and family-themed movies. This is a movie that they will sit through and engage from the beginning till the very end.

Cinema Online, 20 April 2011