 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
This movie directed by Joe Charbanic is, The Watcher, but it could be called Seven, The Bone Collector, Copycat, The Silence of the Lambs, or any other movie about a serial killer and the cat and mouse game with the primary investigator. In fact there is nothing original, nothing special and nothing notable about this thriller or any other thriller made in the last 20 years. All these thrillers are beginning to mesh together. I guess without being in the head of a real serial killer, writers are not able to come up with a real understanding of what makes them do what they do or choose the method they do to commit their crime. Without this insight these movies lack direction or substance. Let's be honest, who can confess being in the mind of a real serial killer, unless they are that serial killer. This movie stars, James Spader as Campbell, a burnt out FBI agent that was following a serial killer in Los Angeles until it became a little too personal. He then moved to Chicago and started collection disability to stay home and take as many prescription narcotics his body could handle, and still make it to his psychiatrist twice a week. Then we have the serial killer, Griffin starring Keanu Reeves (The Replacements). He liked to play with his victims once he intended to kill them. He would dance with them, try to make them feel wanted, if only for a moment and then stalk them. When the game was over, he would just kill them and move on. Then the role of Spader's psychiatrist, was Marisa Tomei (Slums of Beverly Hills) as Polly. I am not sure what her actual role was other than intended victim. FBI agent gives up and moves away, serial killer follows and starts killing young girls. Only Spader is so burnt out he doesn't even notice. Killer to get his attention and get the game going again kills a girl in Spader's building. He gets his attention now, well once the photos Reeves sent are opened, weeks after the crimes. Now the cat and mouse begins. We are supposed to be impressed with the brilliant detective work by Spader, but the audience did not get to see the photos up close or for any length of time to come to the same conclusion as Spader. We are impressed at what he notices. My guess is, if we saw what he saw, we could guess too. So killer gets cops attention, then cop is on to killer. Killer has intended victim and cop risks his life to save. Killer dies and hero is wounded. Blah Blah Blah. What is never really evident is why does the killer kill? Why does the killer need the attention of Spader, wouldn't any other cop do? Why does he choose one type of girl on the west coast but in the mid west pick another? To many loose ends or ends that just don't fit in. I didn't get any type of booty shot what so ever. I think I would have enjoyed Spader's butt. The plot was never very tense or thrilling so I give this film a three couch rating out of 10. Last updated: Thursday, March 20, 2008 02:49:59 AM |