johnnysure1

After watching this movie, I was wondering why this was said to be so bad? I've never read the book, but as caveman movies go, it places a solid second to QUEST FOR FIRE. This was back in the '80's when make-up was cool, so I loved the make-up jobs. This was back when Jan DeBont was a great cinematographer, so the film was visually gorgeous. And Alan Silvestri's score was beautiful in a very '80's kind of way. Acting was pretty solid, and I thought Daryl Hannah was very good. (It must be very difficult to play a Neanderthal without feeling ridiculous.) The story was simple and wonderful. I have no reservations. If you like caveman movies, this is pretty good. If you don't, rent something else.

Perhaps if this film had come out 10 years ago, right after PASSENGER 57, it might have looked a bit better. As it is, it bears immediate reminder of the two far better thrillers mentioned above. In the case of RED-EYE, I understand that Hollywood has long been in the habit of making the exact same movie at the exact same time at different studios (the werewolf phase of 1981, the DANTE'S PEAK/VOLCANO showdown), so this unfortunate bit of release timing is understandable. But how Jodie Foster, an actress of enormous talent and notorious pickiness, would decide to make the exact same film as her last one with weaker script, cast, and director may be one of the great mysteries of cinema history. Here's a woman who can play anything, and she comes up with this merely passable Lifetime thriller. Actors of this caliber need to understand that we expect to see them in more ambitious stuff, and it is actually a detriment to the filmmakers to do this sort of thing (although, based on the box-office returns, I guess it wasn't too big of a detriment.) I had a similar problem with Robert DeNiro in HIDE AND SEEK. Any of a number of actors could have done that film without us having to see the greatest actor of his generation slum way below his talents. What's next? Daniel Day Lewis in the next Freddy picture?

Don't get me wrong, I like a good little thriller. But this one falls prey to one of the oldest thriller traps that there is: it is easier to set up a creepy situation than it is to find a reasonable explanation for why it might happen. Well before this movie falls apart with a ridiculous explanation of what is going on, my little brain was already analyzing the situation and thinking: "The only possible explanations for this turn of events are all utterly ridiculous." Somehow, that implausibility level did not hinder RED-EYE, but films like FLIGHTPLAN and HIDE AND SEEK quickly crumble when we realize how unlikely the plot is.

In the end, PANIC ROOM had a more plausible plot, while RED-EYE had a more entertaining one. Those other movies also had better badguys, better heroines, better plot twists, and much more kickass finales. Oh, yeah, they also had senses of humor. And if you want to try to outdirect Wes Craven and David Fincher in the thriller genre, you'd have more luck trying to pull off one of the schemes attempted in these three movies.

Wes Craven is the MAN!!!! Now that's a f@(%ing MOVIE!!! Here's a note to Hollywood. This was a movie with a SCRIPT!!! Notice how two characters sitting there talking were sexier, scarier, and more thrilling than your typical CRASH, BOOM, BANGs! Oh and by the way, the grand finale shows you how to do CRASH, BOOM, BANG correctly.

The two leads are excellent. Perfect casting, good chemistry, they seem intelligent (and of course, they're both very pretty, but as long as you've got the first three, I can actually enjoy the fourth.) Our supporting cast is good too. The comic relief character (Jayma Mays) is actually NOT ANNOYING! I'm a moderate liberal, and I was cheering for the head of Homeland Security (Jack Scalia)! And Brian Cox plays an ordinary, recognizable human. We're even worried about what might happen to him! But the real star is Wes. He's given us a whole career of disreputable, squirm-inducing classics (LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT, THE HILLS HAVE EYES, A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, SCREAM). Well, he may have finally worked himself up to semi-reputable, and I hope he has a really big hit! Incidentally, this is what PHONE BOOTH and CELLULAR were supposed to be.