There's not enough plot to keep this nearly 2-hour long erotic thriller going, especially once it lets go of its initial ambiguity. The film is about a husband (Affleck) who's alright with his wife (Ana de Armas) romantically engaging with other men, growing increasingly jealous (and turned on!) by the proceedings. So, the wife Melinda is a hedonist - she lives for instant pleasures. She isn't particularly fond of taking care of their child - or the film rarely shows it. The husband Vic is hazily sketched - he's a retired drone-software guy, he loves threatening his wife's male friends and loves studying snails. His transition from accepting his wife's escapades to becoming a legit threat to the men involved lacks good bite - that's a screenplay problem, not the actor's!
There aren't any scenes where he "loses it" or clarifies what he wants out of this seemingly broken relationship. On the other hand, Melinda is all about looking sexy all the time. And since we're picturing Ana de Armas here, it is an easily achievable tick. I didn't see much in the way of nudity or sexual content here, except for glimpses of "what could've been." Affleck makes for a believable bad guy while also being a doting dad. Armas' character needed better etching because it's tough to lean into her vision here either, though she scorches the screen with her presence. As a result, we get a predictable, somewhat tepid thriller that only partially does its job!
There aren't any scenes where he "loses it" or clarifies what he wants out of this seemingly broken relationship. On the other hand, Melinda is all about looking sexy all the time. And since we're picturing Ana de Armas here, it is an easily achievable tick. I didn't see much in the way of nudity or sexual content here, except for glimpses of "what could've been." Affleck makes for a believable bad guy while also being a doting dad. Armas' character needed better etching because it's tough to lean into her vision here either, though she scorches the screen with her presence. As a result, we get a predictable, somewhat tepid thriller that only partially does its job!