Sliding Doors (1998)

Set in London, a young woman (Gwyneth Paltrow) is fired from her public relations job. As she heads home, she just misses her tube train when the doors close on her. But in a parallel universe, she makes the train on time. But those sliding doors will significantly change her life in both universes but for different reasons. This romantic dramedy benefits from Peter Howitt's (who also directed) clever screenplay and a charming performance by Paltrow. There are those who can call the premise a gimmick and I suppose it is but it transcends gimmickry in its appeal and grace. And it's nice to see a "gimmick" not take itself so seriously as something like MEMENTO which isn't any more profound than SLIDING DOORS, just more heavy handed. It's a pity a more charismatic actor than John Lynch wasn't cast as the cheating boyfriend, one can't help but wonder what Paltrow or Jeanne Tripplehorn see in him. But there's a nice chemistry between Paltrow and John Hannah. With Virginia McKenna, Zara Turner and Douglas McFerran.