Review of Passion (2013) by Todd S — 25 Aug 2013

Wowza ... what a film! Brian de Palma (Scarface, The Untouchables) tries his hand at inter-office politics with this almost farcial-film that is based upon a 2010 French film called Love Crime (starring Kristin Scott Thomas and Ludivine Sagnier) about two women competing with one another in the cutthroat world of international business.

Passion stars Rachel McAdams (The Notebook) and Noomi Rapace (Prometheus) as the competing businesswomen with McAdams playing the superior who takes advantage of Rapace's sharp mind and creative ideas.

There isn't much to say about this other than a crime happens and there are many twists and turns as some characters are more shady than others. McAdams plays a sexual promiscuous woman who will do anything to get ahead .

.. and Rapace learns from her. There are some laugh-out-loud scenes in Passion which I assume were not supposed to incite laughter ... and if it is all camp than de Palma is a better director than I want to give him credit for being (as his late track record hasn't been stellar).

The film is watch-able enough but it most definitely is not a good one. It feels sleazy at times and cheap ... tawdry if you will. I wouldn't really call that Passion but the film has its moments.

I won't discount that; but I'd recommend the original with subtitles before advising one to see this.