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The Gift avoids the pitfalls of cliche.
by Yahoo! Movies User (movies profile)
May 5, 2006
9
of
9 people found this review helpful
If you dread endless lines, ringing cell phones, and the image of shoving through masses of shrieking, midriff-baring teens and corpulent heavy breathers (who bring the entire concession stand to a grinding halt while they order enough snacks to feed a small island), just to see Planet of the Apes this weekend, may I suggest an alternative? Take a leisurely drive to the video store and rent The Gift instead.
The Gift was overlooked in the theaters, despite good reviews and being directed by Sam Raimi (of the Evil Dead films). But, hey, as many brainwashed movie-goers will tell you, "If they ain't blowing stuff up it ain't worth paying fer." Sorry, but nothing gets blown up in The Gift. And no, it's not about the hellish lines at Target you encounter when trying to return an unwanted present. Instead, you get great acting, haunting scenery, terrifying psychic dreams, and plenty of cracked heads. And for all those Dawson's Creek haters out there, you get to see Katie Holmes die! But hold on, there's more! At no additional price, you will also receive the bonus of seeing Keanu Reeves tearing through scenery as the wife-beating redneck that I always suspected he was. Finally, a role he can't screw up.
The film is set in an intensely creepy swamp town in Georgia, and the "gift" refers to the powers of local woman Annie (a superb Cate Blanchett). She is a widow raising two young boys, who supplements her income by doing psychic readings and listening to people's problems. When the town's bad girl (Katie Holmes) vanishes, Annie is asked to help with the investigation. The results are a thrilling mix of suspense and genuine whodunit terror.
Now, being a suspense film, this movie could have easily gone into the crapper. (Does anyone actually remember seeing In Dreams?) But thanks to careful direction, fine acting, and a suitably unsettling atmosphere, The Gift avoids the pitfalls of cliche. It is also an exceptionally beautiful film to watch--the swampland never looked so good. And while there are some fine supporting performances by Giovanni Ribisi, Greg Kinnear and Keanu Reeves, it is Cate Blanchett who really shines here. Adopting a flawless Southern accent and a gentle empathy for the other characters, her Annie is an image of warm humanity who provides a soul for the movie. |
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