Spread (November 18/09)

Featuring one of Ashton Kutcher's most impressive performances to date, Spread casts the actor as Nikki - a charismatic boy-toy who proudly jumps from one bed to the next with such frequency that he doesn't even have a home of his own. Though he's got a good thing going with his latest conquest (Anne Heche's Samantha), Nikki begins to question his shallow existence after meeting (and falling for) a similarly less-than-ethical twentysomething named Heather (Margarita Levieva). It's an intriguing premise that's initially employed to above-average effect by director David Mackenzie, as the filmmaker does a superb job of imbuing Jason Hall's low-key screenplay with impressive bursts of style (ie an unbroken take that winds its way through a hopping Hollywood party). The inherently fascinating nature of the central character's hedonistic lifestyle certainly plays an instrumental role in capturing (and sustaining) the viewer's interest, with Kutcher's note-perfect work ensuring that Nikki consistently comes off as a compelling, thoroughly believable figure (and it's also worth noting that the actor doesn't shy away from sporadically infusing Nikki with far-from-likeable attributes). There's consequently little doubt that the unapologetically aimless atmosphere never quite becomes as problematic as one might've anticipated, although it's hard to deny that the movie does start to run out of steam as it progresses into its increasingly conventional third act. The inclusion of an unexpectedly poignant finale ensures that Spread concludes on a high note, however, and it ultimately goes without saying that the film remains worth a look primarily for Kutcher's magnetic central performance and Mackenzie's striking visual sensibilities.