Fantastic!

A brilliant film that helped define a genre

When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

Watching it is like watching the spectacle of a class clown at their best: you laugh at their jokes, instigate their defiance, and "ooooh" when they get in trouble.

Natalie might be cast in the role of the "other woman" but this isn't about cheating, nor is it about step-parenting. The whole movie is about SIDS. The movie never really shows what second wives really go through, which is baby-momma drama. There was none of that. Natalie had hardly any dialogue in the entire film, and there was little to no character development. Natalie might be cast in the role of the "other woman" but this isn't about cheating, nor is it about step-parenting. The whole movie is about SIDS. The movie never really shows what second wives really go through, which is baby-momma drama. There was none of that. Natalie had hardly any dialogue in the entire film, and there was little to no character development.

Natalie Portman plays well the young mother who's caught in a cycle of anguish and torment, over the death of her baby daughter and her new relationship with her married boss and his young son, who's lactose intolerant. It's further complicated by her own son's upheaval and current husband's feelings.As such characters in real life tend to have most of us walking the other way, so convincingly does she play such a person, that the resulting film is both rather maudlin and frankly, a little boring. We don't really want to be bothered by such seemingly trite 'problems'.Especially as it's elongated to nearly 100 minutes. A slow pace and rather depressing music don't help. Lisa Kudrow (Friends) doesn't convince as the wife of Jack (Emilia's - Portman - boss) who as a doctor has occasional, but surprisingly disquieting conflicts with Emilia.Not being a parent myself - and male, possibly, I'm sure doesn't help me get into the groove of the story and I'm sure those who can associate with such life experiences can find a lot to connect with.It's not a bad film, though, just not 'me'. I saw it on Sky Movies.

Inevitably seeing this movie brought to mind another with a similar title, "Love And other Drugs", which was released later but I saw first. As well as titles with the same three first words, both films are based on a book (in this case a successful novel by Ayelet Waldman), are scripted by the director (in this instance, Don Roos), have an attractive and young lead actress (in this one, Natalie Portman), and deal with challenging social issues (this time, step-parenting and infant mortality). However, where "..Drugs" was a romantic comedy, "..Impossible Pursuits" has less romance and very little comedy. In fact, at times it is quite harrowing.It works because of an intelligent script (although the dialogue is sometimes hard to follow) and some fine acting, not just from Portman - who is excellent - but Scott Cohen as her husband, Lisa Kudrow as the ex-wife, and Charlie Tahan as the troubled child of the first marriage. Many films set in New York include scenes in Central Park, but here the location is particularly well used, especially in a silent walk to remember the deaths of the unborn or newly born. The soundtrack too neatly complements the action in a work that is well worth viewing as a contrast to the standard rom-com.

"The Other Woman", directed by Don Roos, is an overall satisfying and turbulent drama set in New York City regarding well-to-do families and inter-relationships as well as extra-marital consequences. At the conclusion, my wife and I agreed that we had some pretty heavy disdain for Portman's character (Emelia) who immorally ignored the fact that the man she was attracted to was married going after him or allowing him anyway. The hypocrisy that the script finally goes over a bit when relating to her own father cheating was a good angle to explore. None of this is really though the focus of the movie but more theatrics. Easily what makes this movie very good is the wonderful relationship that blossoms out between Emelia and stepson William with all it's friction. The ending scene is outstanding and helps you look past other clichés and short-comings.