Boarding Gate

Lust, money and betrayal in the faint shade is back. Asia Argento (of XXX fame) teams up with maverick director Olivier Assayas (who has been making ‘off-the-beat’ films for sometime) in this gruelling emotional thriller.

Miles (Michael Madsen) involved in a shady Paris investment firm is confronted by former girlfriend Sandra (Argento), who cannot forget him. So she visits him now and then, to hit back at Miles personally and also at the same time fulfilling the wishes of her boss Lester (Carl Ng) with whom she is now having an affair.

After implementing a multi-billion dollar plot the film shifts to Hong Kong where Sandra escapes to ‘lay low’ for sometime. But after almost being killed, she slowly finds out that she is just a another part of game played by her boss.

There is one long scene involving Madsen and Argento giving the film a pseudo-art flick. The office scene where Sandra teases Miles is the film’s  most titillating moment, and also artistic.

Director Assayas’ trademark camera work like blurred vision, extreme shaky pans and long shots sometimes are disturbing. On the casting front Madsen is one guy who simply can’t act. He looks the same in the movies he has done. Argento is only the saving grace and simply astonishing.

Boarding Gate has been screened at several international film festivals and well received by audience. The reason behind this could be the portrayal of a strong woman character, who can decide the future of the men in her life.