Le regard du coeur

Justine Bateman has not yet found her niche away from her TV-role as Mallory on the sitcom "Family Ties". A couple of movies and another bad series later and her career is still on the mend. However, while still on "Ties", she did this careful, absorbing telefilm about a young blind woman exerting her independence for the first time, moving out on her own and having her first intimate relationship. It's not as pat as one might think, thanks to smart writing, an efficient direction, and Bateman's lovely performance. Bateman isn't a charming, perky actress (like, say, Sandra Bullock), but she has an innate quality--a grounded, serious quality--that works well for a drama. She was OK as a bar-band rocker in "Satisfaction", but this movie captures a far less plastic personage and I was very impressed with her skills. *** from ****