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"Halle Berry's
Breakdown Led To
Catwoman Appearance" |
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Directed by Matthieu
Kassovitz, Thom Oliphant
- Written by Sebastian
Guttierez
Starring Halle Berry,
Robert Downey, Jr.,
Charles S. Dutton,
Penelope Cruz
Distributed by Warner
Brothers - 2003 - 98mins
- Rated R |
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Because someone is dead it doesn't mean they're gone. |
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There
are moments where "Gothika" edges on brilliance.
It's been a long time since I've seen a truly horrifying movie, and I
was hoping this one would fit that mold. Sadly, it doesn't, but it's
not a complete waste of your time.
The story is about a famous psychiatrist named Miranda (Halle Berry)
who is locked up for killing her husband. She does not remember this,
though, and must prove she didn't. Things take a supernatural twist
when she realizes it may involve ghosts and possession.
I'll talk about the things I enjoyed first: 1. Halle Berry, as usual,
is very good. This may be far below her more famous roles, but she
seems game and looks like she's having a blast playing in a popcorn
movie.
2. The camera work, set design, sound, music, and lighting are
brilliant. When the camera panned over the sets I got chills. It's
rather masterful.
3. It has several truly frightening moments. I won't give anything
away, but there were three parts where the entire theater screamed and
one where they screamed and jumped (myself included).
Despite this, "Gothika" has some major problems. The first being the
script. Almost every character is flat and boring, and most of them
are rather stupid. That can be forgiven, though, after all, it's a
horror film.
Another problem, though, is the casting. Berry's husband is played by
Charles S. Dutton. While he's a fine actor, there is no way he could
quite possibly be her husband. There few scenes together are just
downright gross.
The biggest problem: I solved the "mystery" halfway through the film.
I knew the ending long before it happened. The final twists are not
shocking, and the climax is flat, stupid, and stereotypical.
Overall, I enjoyed big parts of "Gothika," but the bad moments stick
out like a sore thumb. This is a worthy film for horror films, but a
boring one for most everyone else.
***This review may be inaccurate. To my lower left in the theater, a
group of obnoxious teenagers would not shut up. Despite "ssshhhh"s
from the audience, they kept blabbering. Eventually, one of my viewing
partners yelled "Shut up you stupid idiots!" and they quieted, but
they may have ruined some of the movie for me. |
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© Written by Jacob Hall -
Email
Me! |
TC Candler's Comment
n/a
Richard Propes' Comment
Personally, Jacob, I think the obnoxious
teenagers may have actually saved this film for
you. I'd give a group of obnoxious teenagers a
C+ before I'd give "Gothika" a C+.
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