TC Candler's Review D

This film should be locked up...

The film is beautiful to look at in many parts and vomit inducing in others. The "Nick of Time" premise, where the puzzle needs to be solved in 'X' amount of time, is always rather suspenseful and this film does a solid job keeping us on the edge of our seats. Jennifer Lopez isn't bad, but she is in desperate need of a good role to solidify herself as a bankable actress in Hollywood. Vince Vaughn has a savvy awareness on screen and that is evident again in this very mediocre film.

This film made me feel dirty. Yes, the cinematography is beautiful. Yes, the acting is solid all around. Yes, the movie moves swiftly and deftly through the plot. Technically this film is good is many ways. However, the subject matter is so depressing and dark and morose, not to mention rehashed, that watching it I felt unlucky to be a human being. A film with such creativity should not waste itself telling the story of a serial murderer, a very twisted one at that. This film can best be described as a less interesting version of the film ‘SE7EN’ combined with a cheap knock-off of a Salvador Dali painting. Every little piece of this film has been seen elsewhere in other films. As a whole it seems original and fresh, but a discerning eye will see all the borrowed clichés and over used images.

Jennifer Lopez turns in another semi-decent role as a psychologist who, ridiculously I might add, can actually transfer herself into the subconscious of those with mental problems. The procedure itself is poorly explained and, although the film appears to be set in the present, is not something scientists would be able to accomplish in a million years. Vince Vaughn is the cop who is assigned to a string of murders. The suspect is caught, and for Vaughn to find the final missing victim he has to hire Lopez to ‘probe the subconscious’ of the serial murderer. D’Onofrio is convincing as the 'sicko', although I have no idea why he wanted the role in the first place. I won’t give away the ending, but I must admit that it was somewhat suspenseful.

As I said the film is technically solid… but it has no substantial redeeming value. The film means nothing in the grand scheme of things, which is okay if the plot delivers an original and fresh twist on a tired genre. The Cell does not deliver that, and unless you are obsessed with serial killers and Salvador Dali… this is a film to miss.

© Written by TC Candler

How We Rated This Film TC Candler - D Richard Propes - D+ Jacob Hall - B-

Richard Propes' Comment

I confess that the mere words "Jennifer Lopez" will nearly always result in a maximum rating of "C" with me. That said, this is still a remarkably silly, poorly written and boring to watch film.

Jacob Hall's Comment

"The Cell" is such a visually beautiful film, that it deserves so much more...but we get Jennifer Lopez (shudder).

The story is also a slouch. It's just a remake of "The Silence of the Lambs" minus cannibalism and realism. Vincent D'Onofrio is pretty good as a serial killer who goes into a coma and is the only one who knows the location of a missing woman. A psychiatrist (Arg, J Lo) enters the killer's mind using an experimental procedure, and must locate his inner child to learn the location of the woman.

Let me say this: the inside of the killer's brain gave me nightmares. It is so scary, so macabre, so dark, twisted, and hands down frightening, that it makes up for Lopez's performance. The film is further enhanced by D'Onofrio, playing both his innocent side, and his evil side. He's terrifying, and the twisted kingdom that is his mind is some of the best production design in recent years. It must have been made by some sick, but very creative people.

I still have to downgrade it because of J Lo, and by the fact that the world outside of the killer's mind is boring and contrived. You've seen it all before.

If it wasn't for the sets, this would be an easy C...but it scrapes a B- in my book