[8]

Halle Berry and Benicio Del Toro give terrific, Oscar-caliber performances in this film about a widowed mother who invites her late husband’s friend, a recovering drug addict, to stay with her. I was moved by the struggle of two deeply wounded people trying to help each other. Berry’s character tries to help Del Toro’s come clean, and he tries to help her bring her family back together after tragedy. They really don’t like each other, but they bond over the one thing they had in common — their departed best friend. Screenwriter Allan Loeb makes things even more interesting with a non-linear story structure that begins at the funeral and then goes back and forth between the past and present. David Duchovny does a fine job as the deceased husband. Directed by Susanne Bier.