By EWAN McDONALD
(Herald rating: * * * )
Will Keanes (Richard Gere) is a wealthy New York restaurant owner and womaniser. He says he's never been in love in his 47 years - until he meets Charlotte (Winona Ryder), a beautiful 22-year-old who steals his heart and makes him reassess
his life. There is, of course, a catch: Charlotte's got a health issue, as they say.
Yes, there are all the New York City cliches as the film and the story wends through autumn into winter: Central Park, walks on the waterfront, skating, the skyline, more skyline. So why is this romance/disease-of-the-week film, a story you've seen or read 1000 times, not just another 90 minutes on TV2 any Sunday night? Just because of the way that director Joan Chen, Gere and Ryder do it.
Running time: 104 mins
Rental: Today
*Also out this week: Bless The Child ( * * ) (Kim Basinger, Christina Ricci, Jimmy Smits, a kid with supernatural powers) and Play It To The Bone ( * * ) (Antonio Banderas, Woody Harrelson as washed-up boxers with one last shot at the big time).
