Derailed is one of your more standard psychological twist thrillers. What makes this film different however, is that Clive Owen and Jennifer Aniston's performances keep your interest throughout the entire film all the way to its gritty ending.

Charles Schine (Clive Owen) is an average businessman who makes the daily commute from his quaint suburban home to the bustling streets of Chicago. Charles finds himself merely content with his life and job when his life takes an unexpected turn. Missing his daily train, Charles befriends another commuter Lucinda (Jennifer Aniston) who leads a similiar lifestyle, and the two get to know each other behind the backs of their unsuspecting spouses. On the night that they decide to consummate their infidelity, both of their lives take a turn for the worst.

During a series of events, Charles finds himself powerless to the deceit and entrapment in which he has become tangled. Charles is directed like a pawn into surrendering a life-savings and the security of those he loves. It is only when Charles pieces together the puzzle that he decides when and how to get his life back.

Although the plot is somewhat predictable at times, the film is very entertaining throughout. The appeal to the plot is that even though most minds can foresee the twists, the characters are so provocative that you yearn to find out how the problem is to be resolved. Owen's performance in his first Hollywood leading role is dead on. His portrayal as Charles helps the audience empathize with both his persona and his situation. Jennifer Aniston seems to have taken her divorce from Brad Pitt in stride, nabbing two roles in 2005 and four thus far in 2006. She seems to be making a conscious effort to shed her good-girl typecast, and, pleasingly, in this film she plays a bad, bad girl. Vincent Cassel, whom you might remember from Ocean's Twelve, is a virtual unknown in Hollywood. Cassel's surprising performance in this film is sure to grant him spotlight, and subsequently feature roles. Director Mikael Håfström commanded the film with aggressive angles and an edgy style that aided in the transformation of Owen's character.