Summary
- Josh Hartnett’s captivating lead performance in
Trap
has critics buzzing about his potential return to stardom after his Hollywood hiatus. - Wicker Park
showcases Hartnett’s emotional depth and desire to break free from heartthrob roles. - Hartnett’s refusal to take on major roles like Superman exemplifies his commitment to choosing projects that are aligned with his values and artistic growth.
As a cinephile who has seen more films than I care to count and lived through the tumultuous era of Hollywood heartthrobs, I must say that “Wicker Park” stands out as an intriguing and enigmatic gem. The film’s labyrinthine plot, reminiscent of a twisted love child between Hitchcock’s masterpieces and Kurosawa’s Rashomon, is a testament to the power of emotional realism in storytelling.
Josh Hartnett is experiencing a career comeback after over 15 years away from Hollywood. His resurgence began in 2023 when he received critical acclaim for portraying nuclear physicist Ernest Lawrence in the movie “Oppenheimer,” and continued with his leading role in the psychological thriller film “Trap.” In “Trap,” Hartnett’s first major role in a theatrical feature since the 2007 vampire film “30 Days of Night,” he plays Cooper, a seemingly ordinary father and husband who takes his daughter to a pop concert. However, it turns out that the concert is actually a cover for the police to capture a serial killer known as The Butcher, which coincidentally is Cooper’s secret identity.
Although the movie “Trap” has been met with varied opinions, Hartnett’s exceptional portrayal in the lead role has earned unanimous acclaim and sparked discussions about his potential return to stardom if he chooses to do so. One of Hartnett’s lesser-known yet captivating films from his Hollywood heyday, particularly in light of his decision to leave Hollywood, is the 2004 romantic thriller “Wicker Park.” In this film, Hartnett portrays a man who becomes fixated on finding a woman he deeply loved who disappeared mysteriously two years prior.
Although its complex, non-linear storyline and artistic style puzzled viewers and critics, Wicker Park is an intriguing cinematic enigma, largely thanks to Hartnett’s captivating lead role. This performance also offers a revealing insight into his burgeoning dissatisfaction with the corrupting influence of Hollywood fame, which was evident at that time.
Josh Hartnett Plays a Romantic Stalker
Josh Hartnett’s recent disclosure that fanatic admirers’ stalking-like actions led him to leave Hollywood adds an intriguing depth to the film Wicker Park, where he portrays a man driven by an obsessive love for a woman, resulting in his character adopting a dangerous level of stalking conduct that hints at madness.
In the movie, Hartnett portrays Matt Simon, a Chicago advertising professional. The narrative begins with Matt attending a business gathering at a restaurant. During this meeting, Matt believes he recognizes the voice of Lisa, a stunning dancer whom he had been deeply in love with two years prior. After this unexpected and unsettling encounter, Matt, who is in a somewhat hesitant engagement to marry his boss’s sister, decides to abandon a crucial business venture in China to locate Lisa. However, finding Lisa proves to be incredibly challenging.
In Wicker Park, the narrative weaves back and forth through time and switches perspectives among various characters. It primarily focuses on the tumultuous relationship between Matt and Lisa (portrayed by Diane Kruger), while also delving into Matt’s relentless pursuit for answers following Lisa’s sudden disappearance. However, as the story progresses, a new character, Alex (played by Rose Byrne), enters the scene, initially filling the void left by Lisa and adding complexity to Matt’s search. Eventually, Matt starts questioning whether Alex may have assumed Lisa’s identity or even worse, could be responsible for her disappearance.
Although Matt appears to embody the characteristics of a romantic stalker with his habit of spying, trespassing, and performing other questionable actions, the movie “Wicker Park” transforms him into an investigator in a romantic mystery, as it skillfully uses multiple perspectives and a non-linear timeline to create a Rashomon-like effect. In this way, “Wicker Park” delves into the extreme measures people take for love.
Wicker Park Is a Surrealistic Study of Obsessive Love
Similar to Alfred Hitchcock’s romantic thrillers, such as ‘Rebecca’ and ‘Vertigo’, the movie ‘Wicker Park’ initially leads viewers to ponder a supernatural explanation for its peculiar occurrences. However, it later offers an explanation that makes the film’s seemingly extraordinary events seem more believable. Reading a synopsis of ‘Wicker Park’, which is known for being one of the most confounding films of its time, if not in cinematic history, can be maddening and pointless. Yet, despite the confusion, the movie eventually offers a reasonably clear explanation for its central mystery, leaving viewers with a satisfying sense of resolution when it reaches its final conclusion.
It’s remarkable how the complex and seemingly inaccessible plot of Wicker Park manages to captivate audiences, a testament to the intense emotional realism portrayed by actors Josh Hartnett, Rose Byrne, and Diane Kruger. Their intricate, three-way relationship unfolds as a web of coincidences, misunderstandings, and deceptions that only becomes clear in hindsight, despite its complexity and difficulty to explain.
Hartnett Felt Trapped by Hollywood Stardom
In contrast to its reception at the time, the movie “Wicker Park” served as a significant turning point for Josh Hartnett, as he endeavored to move beyond his heartthrob persona by diversifying his acting roles. This ambition was apparent even before “Wicker Park,” when Hartnett declined an offer to portray Superman in Brett Ratner’s abandoned “Superman: Flyby” film, written by J.J. Abrams. The potential trilogy, worth $100 million, was turned down by Hartnett late in 2003.
About two decades prior to his role in “Oppenheimer”, Hartnett had a discussion with director Christopher Nolan about the potential of him playing Batman in Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” series. Yet, he was drawn towards starring in Nolan’s mystery-thriller film “The Prestige”. Unfortunately, both roles went to Christian Bale instead.
Although Hartnett’s strong commitment to his principles, resulting in him taking an 18-month hiatus and starring in a series of low-budget independent films instead of reaching the major stardom that seemed possible for him in the 2000s, Hartnett appears much happier now than he was during his peak Hollywood years. This is clearly shown in his delightfully mischievous portrayal in the film Trap, which playfully references the teen-idol fame that the current 46-year-old actor has evidently moved past. By the way, you can watch Wicker Park on Tubi.
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2024-08-05 02:31