Enough (2002) Movie Review
Written By: JASR
Edited By: Grave Reviews Staff
Film Information
Director: Michael Apted
Producers: Rob Cowan, Irwin Winkler
Writers: Nicholas Kazan
Date Released: May 24, 2002
Cast:
Jennifer Lopez as Slim Hiller
Billy Campbell as Mitch Hiller
Tessa Allen as Gracie Hiller
Juliette Lewis as Ginny
Dan Futterman as Joe
Noah Wyle as Robbie
Fred Ward as Jupiter
Rating = 3/5 Graves
***May contain some spoilers***
Synopsis
Slim (Jennifer Lopez) and Mitch (Billy Campbell) first met at a diner. They later get married and have a daughter named Gracie (Tessa Allen). One day, Slim learns that Mitch has been cheating on her. Slim gets mad about this but Mitch hurts her and says he won’t end the affair. With the help of her friends, Slim tries to leave with Gracie. Mitch catches them at first, but the mother and daughter are soon able to leave. Mitch always finds ways to track them down and doesn’t fail to show his abusive side in the process. Slim must figure out how to save herself and her daughter from Mitch’s abusive actions.
Gore Factor
There are scenes where Mitch would punch and attack Slim, but those are better labeled as action scenes than gore scenes. Towards the end of the movie, things get a little more action-packed and there may be more blood than usual – but still essentially tolerable.
The Grave Review
Jennifer Lopez and Billy Campbell both portrayed their characters brilliantly well. The chemistry between the two actors developed impeccable performances for both their characters’ time as lovers and their time as rivals. Tessa Allen’s performance as Gracie is also worth mentioning. At a young age, Tessa Allen was able to portray the character of a child with conflicting parents. Each time she feels scared or anxious adds a little flavor to the scene and makes the audience more nervous.
The way that Campbell delivered his scenes was realistic – making the audience feel whatever feeling the director wanted to give off. My rule of thumb to say that an actor’s acting was realistic is how the character made me feel. While watching the movie, I felt so much anger and pain from Mitch’s words and actions. This reflects the commendable performance given by Campbell.
This film has gotten mixed reviews from different viewers. Some would say that the movie is exploitative, while others say that it’s empowering. I would say that this film is empowering and relevant. It shows us how one can get back up stronger once faced with mistreatment and manipulation. More than this, the movie can empower those in toxic relationships by reminding viewers that we are stronger than we think we are.
For a movie that came out in 2002, “Enough” surely has some touches that are relevant today. When Slim goes to Mitch’s mother, the latter says “What did you do? What did you say to him?” This is a clear representation of victim-blaming – something that is greatly frowned upon but unfortunately done by many.
The movie has a balance between thrilling and slow-paced. However, the length of the film doesn’t seem necessary. I think the two-hour film can be trimmed down to around an hour and 20 minutes without losing its important points. Moreover, while the acting was brilliant, the outcomes are predictable and familiar.
The ending can produce various debates and opinions. Some may argue that it’s such an unrealistic outcome, while others may say that it was delivered well. Nevertheless, I would say that it’s precisely the ending that viewers need – especially those who can relate to the movie.
Do you agree with our review? Comment below.
Join the Conversation