UNFORGETTABLE
US, 2017, 100 minutes, Colour.
Rosario Dawson, Katherine Heigl, Geoff Stults, Isabella Kai Rice, Robert Wisdom, Cheryl Ladd.
Directed by Denise di Novi.
Unforgettable is too strong a title for this film. It was mocked by many of the commentators and to the film was poorly reviewed, Katherine Heigl, even nominated for a Razzie Award for worst actress.
It was directed by Denise di Novi who had been a significant producer for many years, especially for Tim Burton films.
Promotion of the film was that it was in the vein of Fatal Attraction.
The focus of the film is on Rosario Dawson as Julia, a successful editor, falling in love, moving to another town, becoming a stepmother. She becomes the victim of her fiance’s first wife, continually being present, threatening, controlling. However, Julia has had harsh background with her own mother. Characterwise, she is in complete contrast with Katherine Heigl’s Tessa, fatal blonde, controlled appearance, make up and hair, dominating her daughter, yet losing control to her former husband, David, Geoff Stults.
Most of the film concerns Tessa’s attempts to undermine Julia’s relationship, telling lies, setting up situations, stealing her phone and making text contact with Julia’s former boyfriend, the perpetrator of domestic violence.
Cheryl Ladd has a cameo appearance as Tessa’s controlling mother.
The film moves to a very melodramatic climax – the final confrontation between Tessa and David, between Julia and herself and Tessa finally impaling herself on a knife.
But the film presents a very cheerful and happy ending.
1. Drama? Melodrama? Poorly reviewed
2. The setting, American cities and towns, small towns? Country scenery? Homes, restaurants, schools? Real/affluent?
3. The title? Its meaning? Tessa, Julia? Their parents?
4. The framing of Julia with the police? Her injured face? The accusations, the contact with Michael, her bewilderment?
5. The action, Julia in herself, her background, collecting stories, editing, the farewell party, her friend and continued phone calls and supportive visits? Memories of Michael, aggressive? Her fears, imagining his presence? Love for David, taking on being stepmother to Lily, the new house, the move, her life?
6. Themes of parents, divorce, the effect on children, bonding or not? For David? For Tessa? The motivations? Julia and her having to learn?
7. Lily, her age, relationship with her mother, her mother combing her hair, staying with her father, custody? Tessa’s visit, staying for the meal, Lily refusing to eat the meal? The effect on Julia?
8. With her father, with Julia? The gradual bonding? Normal life, the visits, her performance? Tessa combing her hair, upset with her? Riding horses, wanting to get off, Julia supporting her? Julia finally rescuing her from the house?
9. David, his work, the relationship with Tessa, her stories about the affair, his leaving her? Ambitions for Wall Street? Creating the beer the factory? The launch? The celebrations? Going with Julia to the restroom? His love for her? But also self-absorbed?
10. Tessa, deadly blonde, the straightness of a hair, her control and appearance? As a mother, her control, her version of what had happened, her being upset, revenge, loving David – or her mental state? Making up the stories, watching Julia, delivering Lily, the return, the meal at the house, inviting Julia to lunch, undermining her confidence? Stealing her phone, the contacts, texting Michael? Falling down the stairs and blaming Julia? The horse and Julia defying her and taking Lily?
11. Tessa’s mother, blonde, controlling, memories of the past? Wanting to be with her granddaughter? Her arrival at the end?
12. Michael, the texts, his arriving, Julia and her bewilderment, his violence, wounding his leg?
13. Julia, the effect of her past, having to learn? Losing Lily at the market? Allowing her to get off the horse? Confrontation with Tessa on the stairs? Her ring taken, her phone taken?
14. Tessa, arriving at the house, attacking Michael, stabbing him?
15. The confrontation between Tessa and David, her attack, wounding him? Julia, with the police, the car, helping Lily, fighting Tessa, Tessa impaling herself on the knife?
16. The police, apologising to Julia – and happy ending?
