The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby

"Her/Him"

"Him/Her"

"Them"

(it is all so confusing!)

Directed by Ned Benson

Starring: Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy

Originally conceived as two movies relating a relationship break-up from two opposing perspectives -- that of Eleanor and Conor in an always romantic Manhattan -- the inevitable studio pressure (i.e., Harvey Weinstein) led to the commercial release of a 'condensed' version of the story. I waited to see the original intent of the director: two movies, back-to-back, totalling 3 hours and 10 minutes of my time. As much as I hate to admit it, Harvey may have been right on this one: Rashomon, this is not!

Intrepid movie-goers (in New York, LA, and Houston) had the choice of watching one of three versions: the first version is the story from Eleanor's perspective, followed immediately by Conor's version (no intermission; my bladder objected!). Or, you could see His version first, followed by Hers (I can't imagine that being as effective as in the order I saw them). Or you can give in to Harvey and watch the "commercial" condensed version, clocking-in at a tolerable 123 minutes. (As far as I can tell, none of these options attracted large crowds)..

If all of this sounds very high-concept, it is: but does the story warrant this multi-layered treatment? In my humbe opinion, No. Neither film is completely satisfying. Given the running time, you see very little of what drew these two people together in the first place. So the story of their post-break-up relationship doesn't carry the weight it should: the viewer has never become invested in their relationship to begin with. Sure, by the end of Part Two, the story has reached a cumulative emotional power, but three hours?

The dramatic pacing was oddly flat throughout both films: the fault for this lies either with the Writer or the Director. That makes it easy, because they are the same person! Ned Benson. A surer directorial hand could have made something of this conceit. Benson got in over his head, pure and simple.

The actors do their best with the material. I was especially struck by the supporting performances of Viola Davis, as Eleanor's professor at the New School, and Ciaran Hinds as Conor's Dad. But the best scene in all of these movies involves William Hurt, as Eleanor's Dad, who delivers a heart-breaking monologue towards the end of "Her" that makes you wish the entire movie contained the emotional weight of that scene. Alas, it does not.

P.S. For die-hard Jessica Chastain fans (like moi), spending three-plus hours in her company is never a chore! (here she is playing with her dog Chaplin).