MOVIE

Bounce

Warning: Spoiler Alert!

Photo by John McArthur on Unsplash

Spoiler Alert!

Friday evening yesterday, I had my movie night; not at the theatre, but on Netflix.

I had the opportunity to watch Bounce, a 2000 American romantic drama film directed by Don Roos and starring Ben Affleck and Gwyneth Paltrow.

It is emotional; the performances are captivating. Ben Affleck stars as Buddy Amaral, an advertising executive, who hands over his flight ticket to Greg Janello (Tony Goldwyn), a writer, who is in a hurry to fly home to his wife (Gwyneth Paltrow) and two sons.

Buddy’s life changes when the plane has an accident, and Janello dies. Torn with feelings of guilt, Buddy struggles with alcoholism and goes into rehab. A year later, he sets out to meet the wife of the man who has died in his stead.

The movie is a gentle, emotional story about guilt, fate, and second chances. The on-screen chemistry between the lead pair — who were also together in real life at the time — is truly captivating. They genuinely look like two people deeply in love.

Ben’s acting is powerful: his struggles with guilt, the inability to come clean, the tenderness and fascination mirrored in the way he looks at her, his bonding with the boys, and the tense emotional scenes when the truth comes out.

The movie is romantic and special, with slow, thoughtful storytelling. I enjoyed it.