Unfaithful

  • Review Date: May 19, 2003
  • R
  • Genre: Thriller
  • 2002
 Review

Common Sense Media says

Not for kids, but some adults will like it.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

Not yet rated

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this movie contains a number of elements that may be upsetting to children. The theme of infidelity runs through the movie, and it creates some tense scenes of home life. Connie's seduction is quite overwhelming, and the sex scenes are intense and graphic. There is also one pretty violent scene.


What's the story?

Based on Claude Chabrol's La Femme Infidel, this story of obsession, betrayal, and jealousy centers on happily married Edward (Richard Gere) and Connie (Diane Lane, who seem to have everything until the wife is drawn into an affair. After a chance encounter with Paul (Oliver Martinez), Connie finds she can't stay away from the seductive Frenchman. At home, Edward knows something is wrong. As his wife primps in private and shies away from his advances, his suspicions mount. Finally, after Connie is spotted in a restaurant with Paul, he cannot avoid the truth. A private detective produces all the details, and Edward goes, broken-hearted, to the apartment of his rival.


Is it any good?

 

Adults may consider Unfaithful a worthwhile portrayal of emotional suspense, told with director Adrian Lyne's characteristic visual flair. But it's not for kids -- it's a shocker. None of the plot elements are novel, but the seduction is handled very smoothly, without a lot of the emotional short-hand that would leave the story hollow. In fact, the strength of this film is its very down to earth emotional perceptiveness.

 

The movie makes us constantly aware of the currents of affection that run between the characters, yet the best scene in the film is the confrontation. Neither knows exactly what to do, and it's in this strange emotional limbo that a tragic choice is made.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about the title. The film is symmetrical -- the wife is unfaithful in the first half, the husband in the second. To whom is the husband unfaithful? What "happens" in their final conversation? What is forgivable?


This review was written by Nell Minow
Educator and Parent of 11 year old
August 26, 2011
 
FAMILY FRIENDLY MOVIE FOR EVERYONE!
GREAT MOVIE IT TEACHES KIDS TO BE FAITHFUL IN WHO THEY ARE I LOVE THIS! IT IS AWESOME FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY, AND WHOLESOME! DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO THE RATINGS, IT'S GREAT FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY! NO SEX OR STRONG VIOLENCE, AND SOME CUSSING (NOT BEYOND "D**N") IT IS THE BEST MOVIE EVER! :) :) :) :) :)

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Parent of 4 year old
August 27, 2009
 

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Parent of 6 and 16 year old
January 29, 2011
 
There is nothing in this film for kids, and why you'd watch if you aren't married, I don't know. It's a warning film. This struck me in much the same way as reading (not watching the file) The World According To Garp. It is shocking how quickly things unravel because the marriage was not vigilantly guarded and nurtured.

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Adult
April 17, 2011
 
glorified porn movie is all this one is
this is a glorified porn movie without the porn rating. one sex scene after the other. one violent scene were the husband kills the lover. very coarse language the F word is used quite frequently. I wouldnt advise this movie for anyone under 17

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Kid, 12 years old
January 20, 2012
 
good movie

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This review was written by Nell Minow
Studio:Twentieth Century Fox
Director:Adrian Lyne
Cast:Diane Lane, Olivier Martinez, Richard Gere
Genre:Thriller
Run time:124 minutes
Theatrical release date:May 10, 2002
DVD release date:May 20, 2003
MPAA rating:R
MPAA explanation:sexuality, language, and violence

This review was written by Nell Minow
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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