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Review
Archives
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Today's
Date is:
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The
Gift
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Reviewed
by: |
Justin
Sallows |
| Genre: |
Drama |
| Video: |
Anamorphic
1:85:1 Widescreen |
| Audio: |
Dolby
Digital 5.1, Dolby Surround |
| Language: |
English,
French |
| Subtitle: |
English
|
| Length: |
1
hrs 51 mins |
| Rating: |
R |
| Release
Date: |
July
17th, 2001 |
| Studio: |
Paramount
|
| Commentary:
|
None |
| Documentaries:
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None |
| Featurettes:
|
None |
| Filmography/Biography:
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None |
|
Interviews: |
Yes:
"The Gift: A Look Inside"-All cast and Director Sam Raimi (10
min.) |
| Trailers/TV
Spots: |
1
Trailer |
| Alternate/Deleted
Scenes: |
None |
| Music
Video: |
Yes:
"Furnace Room Lullaby" by Neko Case & Her Boyfriends |
| Other:
|
None |
| Cast
and Crew: |
Cate Blanchett,
Greg Kinnear, Giovanni Ribisi, Keanu Reeves, Katie Holmes, Hilary
Swank |
| Screenplay
by: |
Written by:
Billy Bob Thornton & Tom Epperson |
| Produced
by: |
James Jacks, Tom Rosenberg,
Gary Lucchesi, Rob Tapert |
| Directed
By: |
Sam Raimi |
| Music: |
Christopher Young |
| The
Review: |
Billy Bob
Thornton had already proven his worth as a writer when he wrote
directed and starred in "Sling Blade". "The Gift" is another
dark journey through the south with wonderfully drawn characters.
With an incredibly talented Director like Sam Raimi at the helm
to boot, it's no wonder this project attracted such an array
of talent. No less than three academy award nominated actors
appear. Cate Blanchett actually won the honor for her stunning
portrayal of Queen Elizabeth. Annie Wilson is a widow trying
to raise her three boys on a small social security allowance
subsidized by what she can make reading fortunes for the locals.
Her world is soon violated by the angry husband of one of her
clients who fears Annie is trying to persuade her to leave him.
Shortly after a girl is found dead thanks to her visions. Sam
weaves a wonderful suspense tale. The dream sequences, which
could have seemed jarring blend seamlessly with reality, in
fact they sometimes cross so that you are never truly at ease.
Red Herrings fly like crazy. As soon as you're sure who did
it, another possibility arises. Sam has a deep respect for hitchcock,
and this seems to be his best vehicle so far to honor him. His
visceral visual style, honed in his "Evil Dead" trilogy, explored
in "Darkman", expanded in "The Quick and the Dead" and rooted
in "A Simple Plan" is perfectly at home here. It's no secret
he is one of my favorite directors. He always finds the perfect
angle to draw you in deeper. From the up-angle dolly through
the trees of the swamp, to the bloody drop from a chain he makes
you experience Annie's world. Sadly this film was only moderately
successful at the box office, not unlike his previous outing
"For Love of the Game". Hopefully it will find new life on this
DVD. It is said Billy Bob based Annie's character on his mother
who supposedly had similar powers of perception. If so, he had
a wonderful mother who cared deeply for her children, and showed
great responsibility to her community. Keanu Reeves is worth
mention as a crazed redneck. Some will be surprised by his ability
and will hopefully no longer question it. This is Hilary Swank's
first film since "Boys Don't Cry", and now I really want to
see it based on her performance in "The Gift". Giovanni Ribisi
is excellent of course, riding a razor's edge between sweetness
and a psychotic break. I love that when he's onscreen I have
no idea what he'll do next. Cate is the real star though. She
imbues a stark believability that had me believing every word
from her mouth. A gripping thriller and directing film school
in a box, I was very satisfied with "The Gift". |
| Image
and Sound |
A valued
presentation, Paramount didn't slack on this transfer. Blacks
are deep and mood inducing. Colors seem pumped up in many scenes,
particularly the red of the blood. Processed shots don't reveal
the grain of multiple passes through the optical printer, and
no artifacting was found. This print is dust and scratch free
as far as I could tell, and my eye was never drawn to any edge
enhancement. The rear audio rarely draws attention to itself
but is always present. Only used to add an element of unease
it blends well with the overall surround field. Crickets chirping
from the rear places you inside the scene but doesn't distract
from it. |
| The
Extras |
Although
fairly bare, there is enough on this disc to give us a glimpse
of the production. The interview section is a hodgepodge of
segments of interviews with the Director and cast about their
discovery of the script, the subsequent casting process and
their feelings towards the film. They do resort to stroking
each other, but they all certainly deserve it unlike other pieces
of this type I've seen. The music video is well made and a nice
song but I sure wish there was a commentary track for this disc.
After being stiffed on "A Simple Plan" I was really hoping for
one. An in-depth documentary which included Billy Bob seemed
warranted as I would have liked him to reveal a bit about his
mother and her inspiration. I hope you wouldn't buy a film like
this for it's features anyway because it is a jewel all by itself.
|
| Commentary |
None |
| Final
Words: |
This is
a creepy movie best watched at night with the lights off. It's
not packed with scares, but it gets under your skin. The electric
cast ignites the screen with manic energy and you'll never know
when the other shoe will drop. This is a great date movie, or
a quiet night alone. Although the features are light, the extra
space is used to good effect raising the bit rate for a worthy
presentation. Sam's the man, and I can't wait for "Spider-Man"
next summer! This movie only makes the wait harder. |
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