By 
5 TO 7 ***
Life is a collection of moments and the goal is to experience the best parts of it. Health, an established career, self-esteem and vacation seem to be essential, but love is actually the priority. For a young writer trying to make it in New York, his chance of a lifetime appears in the form of a mysterious femme fatale he meets outside a high society club. Brian is a natural romanticist who believes there are so much inspiring love-stories written on the benches of Central Park, which motivates him to keep on writing and believing in what’s left of love. When he meets the woman again, she reveals her marital status, her role as a social model as well as her influence among the wealthiest people in town; enthralled and with no way out, he surrenders to the mutual desire and her seduction, engaging into a confusing relationship. Her husband is completely aware of it, allowing her to maintain affairs as much as she pleases. The whole situation is unusual to Brian, to his culture and to his parents (hilariously played by Glenn Close and Frank Langella). Brian is confronted by his moral, but he’s also willing to take advantage of the “moment” life’s giving him. After failed love-attempts he finally meets someone he cares for, and despite she’s married and indulging him into an openly adulterous affair he must risk his future for love. First time director Victor Levin infuses a cynical humor to the narrative, exposing Brian’s reactions and turbulences as he grows fond of her, with a charismatic force but sometimes very irregular as it keeps on losing its strength. The actors are wonderful, especially handsome Anton Yelchin as the protagonist, giving a performance that is like a mixture of Woody Allen and Edward Norton, both wandering the streets of the Big Apple on a neurotic and philosophical romantic battle. But the chemistry between him and Bérénice Marlohe, who’s much taller than he is, doesn’t work so well. Also, Levin blends elements of “Pretty Woman” and Buñuel classic “Belle de Jour”, making Brian sort of a male-prostitute who’s allowed to explore everything he can during the afternoon hours of 5 to 7. Despite some mistakes, the efforts of the cast, the sarcasm of good dialogs and the sparkling of the two bodies connected, makes it a relevant comedy with a bit of freshness.
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