THE LOFT
US, 2014, 108 minutes, Colour.
Karl Urban, James Marsden, Wentworth Miller, Eric Stonestreet, Matthias Schoenaerts, Isabel Lucas, Rachael Taylor, Rhona Mitra, Valerie Cruz.
Directed by Erik Van Looy.
The loft was originally a Dutch film in 2008, directed by Erik Van Lloyd. He had the opportunity in 2014 to remake his film in the United States with an American cast.
The loft of the title is a spacious apartment, concealed from the rest of the building, designed by the architect, Vincent, played by Karl Urban. He invites his friends to share the loft, each having a key, a rendezvous for their illicit affairs – with the condition that they inform each other about its use.
The film opens with the death of a young woman in the loft and Vincent discovering the body. He summons his four friends and their a desperate discussions about how to conceal the death and get rid of the body. An elaborate scheme is invented.
In the meantime, there are many flashbacks explaining the characters of each of the friends, their bonds, their family situations, wives, and the motivation for their infidelities. The cast of the film is quite strong (and international with Karl Urban from New Zealand, but Matthias Schoenaerts from Belgium, Isabel Lucas and Rachael Taylor from Australia, Rhona Mitra from the UK).
The plot becomes even more complicated – perhaps the writer and director influenced by Agatha Christie and the Orient Express.
1. The director’s remake of his Dutch film? The American setting, cast
2. The title, the loft itself, visuals, interiors? Its significance, the agreement by the men, their personal use, the limited keys, keeping each other informed? The sexual atmosphere, infidelity, exploitation?
3. The American city, architects and buildings, design, interiors? Homes and apartments? Hotels and clubs, San Diego? The musical score?
4. A murder mystery, solving it? The plot twists? Satisfying explanations and motivations?
5. Vincent, architect, age, marriage, his wife and her work, the brittle relationship? Seen together at functions? The opening of the building? His friends, their bonds? His showing them the loft? His explanations, their agreement, Chris and his hesitation? Ultimately all agreeing? Sex, liaisons, infidelities?
6. The dead girl in the loft? The blood, the handcuffs? Vincent and his arrival, bewilderment? Summoning the rest of the group, their arrival, their alibis, explanations, upset? The presence and absence of quays? The phone call about the inspection for sale?
7. The secrecy, cutting Vincent out? His deceptions and infidelities to all of them? The revelations about Vincent? The men knowing, their revenge on him? The visualising of each of the liaisons with the women? Sarah, in San Diego, Vincent and the attraction, her behaviour, the stripping, Luke watching? Audiences thinking he was watching Vincent? The continued relationship, taking Sarah to the loft, breaking with her?
8. Chris, his wife, morose, preparing the meals, his friends coming for dinner? Her behaviour, condemnation? Chris, the family, fidelity? The encounter with Anne, tease, the irony of her being paid by Vincent? Chris and resistance? Succumbing? The relationship, his infatuation? Her trying to put him off? His taking her to the loft?
9. Anne, her presence, glamour, with the head of the company, on the payroll, the encounters with Chris, seductive, explanation of her background, warning him off? His pursuing her? Her being paid by Vincent?
10. Marty, not so attractive, his wife, the relationship, his flirting, sexual language, his work, his infidelities, his wife leaving him, her affair with the Vincent, his desperation, pleading, the truth?
11. Luke, in the background, his wife, at the parties? In San Diego, Sarah? Seemingly ambiguous and sexuality? The revelation of his relationship with Sarah?
12. Philip, his relationship with Chris, half brother, his manner, engagement, the father of his wife? Rough, violent? Sadomasochistic touches? Using the loft? The betrayal of his sister, his anger? His wife?
13. Philip’s father-in-law, business, promises to Vincent about contracts? His being seen in Las Vegas, Vincent’s hold over him, his hold over people? Business success? Philip and his relationship with him?
14. The accumulation of motivations, the revelations of what it happened, Sarah in the loft, the injection, her death, setting up the murder situation to blame Vincent, Philip and the knife and the blood?
15. The complexities of the phone calls, their presence, the killing and the timing of the injection? The police investigations, the interrogations, each being questioned, the responses, alibis, blame, Vincent?
16. Chris, the final confrontation with Luke, the truth, his lies, his vengeance? The confrontation on the balcony, his wanting to kill Chris, his death?
17. Psychological drama, the men, their identities, sexuality, fidelity and infidelity, bonds of friendship, the use of the loft? Vincent and betrayals? Vengeance?
