★ 6 / 10
Despite the fairly formidable cast here, this really
CinemaSerf
Despite the fairly formidable cast here, this really does smack of an over-scored and weakly written late night television movie. It all centres around the…
Despite the fairly formidable cast here, this really does smack of an over-scored and weakly written late night television movie. It all centres around the happily wed "Andy" (Bill Pullman) and "Tracy" (Nicole Kidman) who are missing just one thing in their lives - a child. When she is suddenly rushed to hospital and diagnosed with a necrotic ovary by the long term friend of "Andy" and slightly arrogant surgeon "Jed" (Alex Baldwin) he carries out a surgery that changes their lives for ever. Turns out this operation wasn't necessary and the surgeon is accused at the subsequent tribunal of having a "God Syndrome"! As the film now progresses we discover a web of lies, deceit, cheating, sex and murder - all of which suggest that "Jed" is not the upstanding physician that his medical peers think he is, and that perhaps he is not working alone to fleece the insurers of some $20 millions due after the botched procedure. The story itself it quite a complex and characterful one, with plenty of twists, turns and perilously placed hypodermic needles, but I found neither Baldwin nor Pullman really exuded much personality and the equally unremarkable Kidman was left to do just a little bit too much of the heavy lifting by herself. At times, it is quite tautly directed but it's got loads and loads of unnecessary dialogue and it felt a bit stodgy at times, too. Maybe it's just time that hasn't been kind to this mystery, but by the conclusion I didn't really care about any of them.
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★ 7 / 10
Ain't no wonderland
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This is pretty dark. In the very literal sense, as in, the lighting can hardly be described as being overpowering, and figuratively, since it's not exactly a…
This is pretty dark. In the very literal sense, as in, the lighting can hardly be described as being overpowering, and figuratively, since it's not exactly a Disney-fied fairy tale. It may require, if not necessarily multiple viewings, then at least attention paid. The plot is well-written, and takes some serious turns. It should throw most viewers for a loop, and it manages to retain a level of believability that not all recent twist-flicks can boast. The cinematography and editing are of high quality throughout, with no exceptions. The acting is spot-on almost invariably, everyone turns in a solid performance... Kidman, Baldwin, Pullman, Scott, Bancroft, not a disappointment to be found among them. The supporting players, as well. The writing leaves rather little(if not nothing) to be desired, and remains excellent for the duration. The pacing is appropriate. The three attempts at doing a proper accent are appreciated, and this is by no means the only film to lack in that department. There is a bit of sex in this, if not that much nudity, considering. There is a moderate amount of language, and it can be fairly harsh. The DVD holds cast biographies(yes, *yippie*) as well as a trailer, which I would not suggest you watch before the movie itself, as it could give stuff away. I recommend this to any fans of the people involved in making it, as well as the genres of crime, thriller, and/or mystery. 7/10
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