Jennifer Aniston has had a bad year, with saying goodbye to Brad and then seeing his face plastered on every magazine cover alongside the harlot who broke them up. But she should look on the bright side — that does not even compare to the torment her character goes through in "Derailed," Swedish director Mikael H?fström's new suspense/thriller.

In the film, Clive Owen ("Closer") stars as Charles, a Chicago advertising executive who has a lot on his mind — problems at work, a humdrum marriage with a distanced wife (Melissa George, "The Amityville Horror") and a young daughter (Addison Timlin) who has already had three failed kidney transplants due to her severe diabetes.

Then, while commuting into the city one morning, Charles's monotonous and rather depressing life is shaken up a bit when he encounters Lucinda (Aniston, "Along Came Polly"). Running late and having no cash to pay his train fare, Lucinda, being the kind stranger that she is, pays for Charles. Because, of course, this is what would realistically happen.

Not just kind-hearted, Lucinda is also drop-dead gorgeous, not to mention apt to flirty banter. After chatting a bit, Charles discovers Lucinda is a financial advisor and, oh so coincidentally, also unhappily married. The two, both on the verge of midlife crises, are instantly drawn to each other. Infatuation ensues and Charles eventually invites Lucinda to dinner as a way of thanking her. Dinner leads to drinks, which in turn lead to passionate kissing in the rain. The only logical next step is scanning the area for the nearest seedy hotel.

However, before the two can actually commit adultery, a mugger with a French accent (Vincent Cassel, "Ocean's Twelve") busts into their hotel room and holds them up at gunpoint, demanding their wallets. Then, in a truly disturbing scene, the man rapes Lucinda as Charles lays battered and broken on the floor.

But it would not be a suspense movie if the action ended there. Laroche, the criminal, decides to take advantage of the situation he stumbled upon and blackmails Charles. Unable to turn to the police for fear of ruining not only his family life but Lucinda's as well, Charles concedes. However, when Laroche is not satisfied with the first payoff and asks for more, in true leading-man fashion, Charles takes the situation into his own hands.

Any further description would spoil the plot, as most suspense movies are only enjoyable if the audience is actually in suspense. But not much more explanation is needed, as "Derailed" is pretty true to form and unfolds just like any other caper in which Average Joe gets involved in a high-stakes game of blackmail. Take an attractive actor, pair him with an even more attractive actress and then have them run around for two hours, all the while evading bullets and bloodshed.

This is nothing new in Hollywood, nor are the twists and turns in the plot meant to keep the audience guessing. True to form, most viewers will figure out the film before the characters do. Hell, it was in theaters a mere three months ago, called "Red Eye," or even this summer, called (sorry, Jennifer) "Mr. and Mrs. Smith."

So what makes "Derailed" any different from the plethora of thrillers already out there? Primarily, the actors. This is both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, without the casting, "Derailed" would not be nearly as enjoyable to watch. On the other hand, viewers are constantly expecting more.

Owen's performance embodies this duality completely. With "Derailed," he continues to prove that he can bear the burden of being a leading man. In the past few years, the British import has stealthily managed to command notability on the silver screen with standout performances in "Closer" and "Sin City." This time around, though, he shows audiences that a stellar actor can play the average man. That is great for his commerciality, which will help him continue to make money in Hollywood. Sometimes throughout the movie, though, Owen's talent seems wasted.

Aniston, in her first post-"Friends" role, puts her title as America's sweetheart to good use. Lucinda is a role that could have easily been cast as more vixen-like. But her genuineness gives their indecent rendezvous credibility — something beyond pure sexuality. Even with the brief set-up, the audience gets enough out of it to feel sorry for them.

And then there is Cassel, who cannot help but be so perfectly menacing it makes the audience slightly squeamish. He is certainly on track to pigeonholing himself as the quintessential bad guy. He plays a weasel so well it would be a shame to see him try anything else — a sort of French Dennis Hopper.

The interesting casting choices do not end with the three leads. These talented actors (yes, Aniston can be called talented — see "The Good Girl") surprisingly act alongside two accomplished rappers. Xzibit, although in a minimal part, holds his own as Laroche's accomplice, while RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan is undeniably entertaining as Charles's street-smart friend in the mailroom. Seeing the prim and proper Owen mesh so well with the talented rapper is in itself enough reason to declare "Derailed" something to see.

Even though the surprises are not always surprising, the storyline remains intriguing, and overall, "Derailed" is still a fun ride if viewers just sit back and enjoy it.

Grade: BC