The Human Contract  ★★

I MADE the mistake of thinking The Human Contract was a relatively new film, parhaps a hidden gem that had slipped under the radar.

Wrong on both counts. The film was made in 2008 and I had never heard of it because it’s not particularly good.

On the surface it’s promising – a passionate drama with a desperate man and a mysterious femme fatale, both of whom are drawn to each other but dangerous in their own rights.

It stars Australia’s Jason Carke, who was about to start a strong Hollywood run, and sultry Spanish actress Paz Vega, who had first garnered international attention in 2001’s Sex and Lucia.

Interestingly it’s also the debut as a writer/director of actress Jada Pinkett-Smith, partner of Will Smith.

Julian Wright is a creative director at a public relations firm which is about to land a significant contract. But Wright is also a man who wears his heart on his sleeve, lets his emotions get the better of him and has a short temper.

He meets the mysterious Michael (Vega) and his life starts to spiral out of control.

Clarke is good in the right role but unfortunately romantic lead isn’t his forte. Vega’s character also fails to register at the hands of the meandering and slow script..

There are moments when the passion and drama should hit home, but Pinkett-Smith isn’t able to dig deep enough to make her characters feel authentic.