Based on Susanna Moore's popular novel, <I>In the Cut</I> centers on Frannie (Meg Ryan), an emotionally stifled English teacher who gets steamy with sultry Malloy (Mark Ruffalo, <I>You Can Count On Me</I>), a cop who's investigating a series of brutal murders--but Frannie soon suspects that Malloy may be the killer. As a psychological thriller, <I>In the Cut</I> is heavier on psychology than thrills; the story is a skeleton that director Jane Campion (<I>The Piano</I>, <I>An Angel at My Table</I>) cloaks in one of the most nightmarish visions of urban life since <I>Taxi Driver</I> or <I>Seven</I>, accompanied by lots of explicit sex. The movie's dark tone will put some viewers off, but Ruffalo's effortless magnetism serves him well; no woman in the audience will question how quickly Ryan falls into bed with him. Also featuring Jennifer Jason Leigh and an uncredited Kevin Bacon. <I>--Bret Fetzer</I>
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