Kristin Scott Thomas and Sergi Lopez star in the poorly conceived &quot;Leaving.&quot;
Kristin Scott Thomas and Sergi Lopez star in the poorly conceived "Leaving."

Kristin Scott Thomas' 2008 French film "I've Loved You So Long" showed what she can do with a great script. "Leaving," her new French film, shows what she can do with a not-great one.

Thomas' subtle, intelligent performance makes "Leaving" worth seeing even when it's not worth seeing. As Suzanne, a Frenchwoman who leaves her husband and children when she falls hard for a studly handyman (Sergi Lopez), Thomas is less reined-in than usual — she giggles quite a bit in "Leaving" — but it's her insight, not the script's, that helps us understand the rash choices Suzanne makes.

The situation in "Leaving" is so compelling the first half of the film can't help but raise interesting questions: How does Suzanne instantly know she's in love? How does anyone? And how can she justify throwing away everything for a man she barely knows? If a less-centered actress were making Suzanne's choices — Angelina Jolie, let's say — we would have a very different reaction than when Thomas, always so rational and quick-witted, does.

Unfortunately, "quick-witted" is the last phrase I'd use to describe the second half of "Leaving." Writer/director Catherine Corsini makes disastrous choices with the character of Suzanne's husband. As the injured party in their marriage, you'd think he would be worthy of our sympathy. But Corsini makes him the movie's supervillain, a lip-smacking evildoer whose actions send "Leaving" into increasingly melodramatic and decreasingly interesting territory.

Thomas, bless her, remains compelling throughout. But it gets harder and harder to watch the things "Leaving" forces her to do.


Directed by: Catherine Corsini

Starring: Kristin Scott Thomas, Sergi Lopez, Yvan Attal

Rated: Not rated, but contains frank nudity, strong language and violence

Should you go? I'll barely recommend it for the acting, but be prepared for things to go haywire. ** 1/2