EssenceStory Well Deserved Praise

Pacionsbo Absolutely Fantastic

Payno I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Billy Ollie Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

shockumentarist This film, despite being filmed in 2003, looks like it's from the mid-90's compared to Chloe, which is just 6 years younger. Maybe that was the point - some films do that, removing anything contemporary, from references to technology, to give a film a dream-like, timeless feeling. I'm not sure this was the case, as there were both references to bands and places that played contemporary music. Maybe the film just looks old because I saw it on DVD, versus a high resolution stream of Chloe which was sharp and crisp.This film also employs some techniques from the 80s, such as scenes with a strong colored light (in this case, red), that was the dominant color in the picture. This film is slower in pace than Chloe, more subtle and more convincing. It's a very talky film, leaving most to your imagination. It could've used some quick flashes to show Catherine's vivid imagination, but alas. I'm surprised that Catherine did not ask for any proof from Nathalie, not any evidence that she's doing any work whatsoever. Beart's surgical enhancements added to this picture. It didn't make her more beautiful, I believe she looks less attractive, but it works for this film. I can imagine Marlene/Nathalie getting plastic surgery.I'm not sure how I feel about the lesbian scene. I felt that it was coming, but the fact that it didn't happen is an interesting direction. There's more gray area and subtlety in this film because of decisions like that. Would it have improved the picture? I'm not sure. It would've changed it a lot. This movie is about Catherine paying a girl to spy on her husband, but it ends up being psychotherapy and marriage counseling. Had there been a lesbian scene, it would be prostitution, the most expensive prostitute ever, dollars per minute, but prostitution nonetheless.It would've changed the fundamental nature of the film - was Catherine's relationship with her husband cooling, were they drifting apart, not spending time together, not communicating, or was it just that she was sexually frustrated and all it took was a night with a female hooker to set her right? It could have worked with other actresses, but not these two. I'm just not getting that vibe from these two here.The good thing is this film didn't overdo it and add some stupid thing like a murder to spice up the plot.All in all, this is the original, Chloe is the worse cover version, but I give this version a 6.

insomniac_rod I watched this movie in theaters until 2005 although the movie was released in 2003. I didn't regret because the wait was worth.I think the plot and events are oriented for a mature audience; specifically for married couples who are passing hard times.The character of Natalie (or Nathalie X as subtitled here in México) is sexy, intriguing, and somewhat evil. She's a woman that may fool everyone with her lies and poses. Everything in the movie will deal with him as she will play angel and devil at the same time with the couple.The ending will leave everyone satisfied as it's an unexpected plot twist.I can recommend this movie for anyone who is looking for intelligent movies with mature situations. Those kind of situations that you may think never happen but that there's a possibility for them to come true...

bitter_sweet_devil "Nathalie" proves that the French filmmakers are masters when it comes to examining sentimental human relationships. Now I know how hard marriages are to manage, how complicated it is. I've always admired the "honesty" of the system of IMDb, but the ratings they've given this film does it no justice at all. Can hardly believe that so few people have appreciated it.Emanuelle Béart is so beautiful, sexy, erotic, malicious; she is perfect for this role - the sadness behind her quiet, observant, etching eyes. Géard Depardieu did a wonderful job portraying his charming character. He must be more than 50 years old, yet, by the end of the film, even I have fallen for his charm. Fanny Ardant fitted into her goody housewife role, most of all was her chemistry with Béart, full of warmth.The full-on English soundtracks throughout the movie suits the movie well, and I am planning on adding them to my collections. A little before Béart, Depardieu and Ardant were supposed to have the fateful meeting at the diner together, I did expect it coming, shortly before Ardant and Depardieu's exchange at breakfast, before Ardant and Béart's conversation at Nathalie's apartment. However, I was still not sure; when it was revealed, I cried. I am extremely touched by this heartwarming film.

Claudio Carvalho In Paris, the executive Bernard (Gérard Depardieu) and his wife, the gynecologist Catherine (Fanny Ardant), form a bored upper class middle aged bourgeois couple. They have been married for many years and their life does not have sexual desire anymore. One day, Catherine listens to the message box of his cell phone and she believes Bernard is unfaithful to her. Catherine hires the beautiful prostitute Marlene (Emmanuelle Béart) to pretend to be a young woman called Nathalie, seduce and investigate the sex life of Bernard and report to her his secrets and performance between walls. Catherine discloses a surprising revelation in the end.I saw the used DVD of "Nathalie…" on sale in a rental, and based on the names of Emmanuelle Béart, Gérard Depardieu and Fanny Ardant, I decided to risky and buy and watch this movie without any previous reference. I found a great movie, with a very credible story, but for mature audiences only. I believe that only the public of a certain age, who have experienced marriage, will fully understand the characters of Bernard and Catherine, their motives and how true the story is. I was also impressed with the elegance of the great French actress Fanny Ardant and with the eternal beauty of the sexy and also great actress Emmanuelle Béart. The direction of Anne Fontaine is very sensitive, delicate and classy, keeping the story in a very high level, without using any type of subterfuge, such as spicy scene or sexual exposition of the cast. The soundtrack is also excellent. My vote is eight.Title (Brazil): "Nathalie X"Note: On 03 July 2011, I saw this film again to compare with the weak remake "Chloe".