One Night Stand

At first I had a knee jerk reaction to the fact that infidelity played a role in the rearrangement of people's lives. However, what got me off my high horse was Robert Downey Jr's character Charlie. Charlie was the equalizer in this film which brought everything and everyone together. The message became crystal clear as Charlie candle slowly burned out, but what better way could a man ask to leave this world. Charlie truly left us all with something to live on for, OUR HAPPINESS.... 9 out of 10

I absolutely love this movie. Figgis' use of music gives me chills and I don't find some of the 'coincidences', in the movie's plot too unbelievable. Rather than being a clichéd Hollywood film on adultery, I've always thought it to be a joyful celebration of life in the face of mortality. Robert Downey Jnr. milks a whole scene for comedic effect solely with the use of his owl-like eyes. While a similar scene in your average film would be knee-deep in pap miserabilism. There is something subversive in the director and actors finding humour amidst such morbidity. But it's the music that keeps me coming back. Figgis' enthusiasm for jazz is well in evidence here and there's even a neat use of Nina Simone's 'Exactly Like You'. Natassja Kinski and Ming Na Wen don't hurt none either.

Realistically, how could a successful man who has a beautiful and sexually available wife, two children and a great home, decide to sleep with a stranger and have the audacity to come home without taking a shower? Realistically, how could this woman turn out to be the sister-in law of this man's best friend. Realistically, how could these two hook up again, and then find their respective spouses going at it less than 20 feet away? Come on!!! This movie is a great example of bad filmmaking. People in the socio-economic strata displayed in the film just don't engage in acts worthy of the "Jerry Springer Show." The film takes what could have been a viable premise and makes it into nothing but a laughable farce. Ming-Na Wen's first love scene is a complete joke. What is she supposed to be a coxswain? Give her a megaphone so she can yell 'Stoke! Stroke! Stroke! Stroke!' What a bad film.

If you only know Wesley Snipes from commercials for exercise equipment or Blade the part Vampire movies, then you probably don't remember him back before he was a cliché. Back when he did things like the Crazy "To Wong Foo". He is great in this movie. Everyone is great. You kinda know it is going to be one of those great little movies when you start seeing the usual suspects of great little indie movies like Kyle McLachlan and Robert Downey Jr plus of course, Julian Sands. Beautifully shot, emotionally wrenching, very human and tolerant about love in all it's aspects (gay/straight, bi-racial, etc) it is just a great great movie. I found it a feel-good movie even though there gut wrenching scenes of loss, mostly thanks to the brilliant Downey. I find it very life affirming.

The movie is heart warming and full of hope. Robert Downey,JR playing a gay man with AIDS is phenomenal and well worth seeing the picture. Under-rated by critics i found it compelling and very moving. It shows a very shapley Wesley Snipes playing a very sympathetic role, different for him, plus the best friend of Robert Downey Jr,