I had trouble watching this movie the first time, somewhat irritated by either Kelly Preston's bad acting, or just the idiocy of character. But, I was determined to get through it on a second viewing and was glad that I did.
The story is a good tale of suspense: Eric Roberts is Jack Hart, a crime scene photographer who is having some weird experiences with deja vu (which were not well explained even by the conclusion of the film). Amused by a photograph of Jean Starr (Preston) he finds at the station, he decides to hire her for his entries into the department photo contest, "A Woman's Place Is..." As it turns out, the photos he has taken of her are pictures that have already been taken, though he can't explain why he can foresee these things (although no one seems to be that interested in it, anyways). Of course, weak-hearted Jack gets himself into plenty of trouble by becoming intimately involved with Jean, who is a bit demented and, not to mention married. What becomes the makings of a good tale of psychological suspense, however, eventually just evolves into one of jealous fiancées and weirdo mistresses with Jack at the heart of it all.
The opening and closing sequences, of which the story is the flashback setting for, are great sequences that deserved to be the bookends of a much more interesting thriller, one that entail. Unfortunately, the story wanes as Jack becomes ever more involved with the deranged model and ever more in trouble with his present girlfriend (played by Eliza Garrett, Eric Roberts' real-life wife). Aside from the boredom, relieved by a lot of fast-forwarding, I was anticipating at least a number of good chase sequences, and some more eerie than what actually transpired (for a while, it appears to be nothing more than a scene out of Fatal Attraction). But, they do try to keep that element gained in the opening and closing sequences, but only intermittently throughout the film (like when Jack is watching television and the night's events resemble a soap opera he watches the following day). A tighter story and greater consistency would have helped this movie tremendously.
Fans of an obscure thriller, or simply Eric Roberts fans, should at least give this one a try. You might find something more to appreciate than I did.
