Review of Thirteen Conversations About One Thing (2001) by Roger T — 09 Jan 2011

At the heart of the film, it asks one fundamental question: What is happiness, and how does one achieve it?

Director Jill Sprecher ("Clockwatchers") uses a very creative storytelling style that interlocks five stories of various New York residents. Part of the film's appeal is how this style unfolds as it seamlessly blend all five threads into a collective whole maintaining the same tone and symmetry throughout.

A man approaching middle age decides to change his life. A rising young attorney's plans are thrown into disarray as the result of a single act. A woman faces her husband's infidelity. An envious businessman seeks revenge on a cheerful coworker. And an optimistic young cleaning woman awaits a miracle.

Alan Arkin, Matthew McConaughey, Amy Irving, John Turturro and Clea Duval are all impressive and give humanity to their respective characters. This is mostly a talking picture and as the title suggests it demands the utmost attention from the viewer.

"13 Conversations", in more ways than one, is food for thought. The beauty of the film is that it doesn't even dare answer the question it originally poses as any answers provided would have been dictated by the filmmakers. Instead, they are smart to let the audience come up with their own.