Home Video: Breaking and Entering

Breaking and Entering
Directed by Anthony Minghella
Released January 26, 2007

I had wanted to see this film for such a long time during its theatrical run a few months ago, but it was only playing at one theatre and I never got around to it. Starting the film and seeing who some of the supporting cast were (Martin Freeman from the British "Office" and Ray Winstone from "Sexy Beast" and "The Departed"), I was more than thrilled. Unfortunately, the film was terribly unsastisfying and unengaging.

Jude Law turns in an effortless, throway performance as an architecht struggling to find happiness with his family and catch the culprit who broke into his office. Robin Wright Penn's accent is not quite on track, and her performance as Law's wife suffers as a result. Juliette Binoche is able enough as the mother of the criminal boy. Ray Winstone is forgettable in a minor performance. Martin Freeman, however, shines as comic relief in an all-too-small part, and Rafi Gavron, in his screen debut as Miro, the thief, is great. Vera Farmiga is the one who truly takes the case with a despicable performance with a horrid accent as a chatty prostitute. People keep saying she has done great work, but coupled with "The Departed," I am less than impressed. She was fine in "Running Scared" and I have yet to see her supposed breakthrough in "Down to the Bone." All in all, this film is a lackluster bore.

C-