While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

Sliding Doors (1998): Dir: Peter Howitt / Cast: Gwyneth Paltrow, John Hannah, John Lynch, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Zara Turner: Interesting technique deteriorates into two boring stories upheld only by the presence of Gwyneth Paltrow. The title represents choice or fate. Gwyneth Paltrow is positioned in two parallel stories. In story A she catches a subway train and arrives home to catch her boyfriend cheating. In story B she misses the train and arrives home only to suspect foul play. Great setup faulted with sitcom situations but director Peter Howitt has fun with interesting locations. Paltrow is fantastic playing someone at the mercy of either deceit or luck but either way weighs her options after losing her job. John Hannah as her friend is standard and unsympathetic. John Lynch plays her ex-boyfriend who is a jerk whether caught cheating or plainly being deceptive. Jeanne Tripplehorn plays his mistress who predictably makes things worse becoming nothing more than a parody fatal attraction gimmick. Zara Turner has a useless role as the female whom Paltrow moves in with and that is about the extent of her role. It addresses fate and the choices we make, which is fine in itself but perhaps one choice viewers can make is to avoid this contraption. As for Paltrow, hopefully she can apply her talent to films where the doors don't slide on the screenwriters. Score: 5 ½ / 10

This movie is right up there with The Princess Bride, except it has a time dimensional twist. I just watched it for the 5th time, in a few years. It never disappoints. The first time I saw it I couldn't believe what I'd just seen! I just sat back and said, "Wow!" , and I've literally been thinking about the movie ever since, in one way or another. it's the kind of movie you expect to hear Rod Serlings voice at the end.It is a very clever story, with 2 paths of Helen's life being depicted throughout the movie, same characters, similar events, but different life decisions and subsequent fallout. Both paths are very interesting, and the movie does a great job of seamlessly letting you know which path you are watching at any point in time. Although a simple story, the developing plot had me hooked the entire movie. I loved it, beginning to end. I don't think it is really a comedy, I would call it more a drama. It is a very serious look at life, paths taken and not taken, and destiny. Paltrow is her charming, adorable self, her character very engaging, and a masterful actress.

Very well made with a nice witty script and a decent pace so it doesn't get bogged down too much. It does look slightly dated though, but that's mostly to do with things like fashion and technology.I must admit I did find the premise of this film quite interesting; how just a couple of seconds at a crucial moment can make drastic changes to a life did intrigue me. I did enjoy the way it was done but ultimately it is about feelings and relationships which is fine as far as it goes. It did leave me with a few questions by the end and I see that as a good thing; there were certain things open to interpretation and any film that does that is always going to be worth a look, in my view. I will admit I did enjoy it up to a point; I found the characters quite engaging, there is some great dialogue and I even recognised one or two of the tunes! Over all, worth a look but I feel its one of those I'll only watch once (although I've been wrong about that before).SteelMonster's verdict: RECOMMENDEDMy score: 7.2/10You can find an expanded version of this review on my blog: Thoughts of a SteelMonster.

For want of a nail the shoe was lost. For want of a shoe the horse was lost. For want of a horse the rider was lost. For want of a rider the message was lost. For want of a message the battle was lost. For want of a battle the kingdom was lost. And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.This is a famous rhyme that resonates deeply within so many of us as it spells out to what extent a single simple incident can affect the whole course of a person's life or even the course of history. This movie examines this very idea by putting Helen(Paltrow), the protagonist, in a situation where her entire life is influenced by whether or not she catches a train. In the original scenario, she misses the train. But there is an alternate scenario outlining what could've happened had she caught it.Many people, particularly those who are facing a rough patch in their lives, spend a lot of time brooding on the question "how would my life have turned out if I had done this or that differently?" But rarely do we ever wonder "is it destined to be so?" The Kingdom might've fallen for want of a horseshoe nail, but was its time passed? This is what, by alternating between the two different scenarios, the movie tries to say. In the end, the Helen who caught the train ended up more successful but also ended up dead while the Helen who missed the train survived and could put her life together in future. Thus, instead of brooding over what could've been and what's lost, it's better to count your blessings, if any and make "what is" better for yourself. It might not be easy but if it's meant to happen, it will. All in all, while the movie is not exactly Oscar material, it's got depth and should be seen despite any and all flawsMy rating-8/10