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The Watcher [2001]
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RRP: £9.99
Our Price: £2.85 (subject to change)
Watching The Watcher
Review date: 2008-07-18 Rating: 6 out of 10
I came to The Watcher with relatively low expectations having never heard of the film before. The cheap price and other reviews tempted me and I'm grateful they did for, while The Watcher is a film with a number of flaws, it does have two significant redeeming qualities; James Spader's central performance and the unpretentious aspirations of the plot.
Spader plays Joel Campbell, a detective who has become central to a serial killer's theatre of cruelty and is paying the emotional and physical price for this unwanted attention. Instead of the cliched narrative of a maverick cop who insists on taking the case despite his flaws Campbell is aware of the liability he has become and hides away like a wounded dog. He has not totally given up hope, however, and reaches out for healing with a psychiatrist played by Marisa Tomei. Unfortunately it is the killer who finally drags an unwilling Campbell out of his twilight world and the suspense escalates around the identity, not of the killer, but of his victims and whether the fragile Campbell can excise the literal and psychological demons from his life.
There are problems with this film, notable the supporting cast have underwritten roles which cannot be resurrected from the forgetable. Marisa Tomei, while likeable, is a fleeting presence and Keanu Reeves does not convince as a serial killer. Only the script's construction of his character's ruthlessness allows the audience to suspend belief to the extent of 'buying' him as a worthy adversary to Campbell. They finally come together in a needlessly rushed climax which falls back on the worst conventions of movie law via a number of lazy plot flaws and continuity errors. It is a testament to Spader's efforts that the audience is sufficiently invested in Campbell to forgive these distractions and crave a satisfactory conclusion to the character's story. This is the key dicotomy of The Watcher - its worth seeing for Spader's outstanding and compelling performance which is delivered, however, within the context of a production that is not really worthy of his contribution. Recommended, therefore, but with reservations, this is a movie that deserves to be better known.
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Reviews
terrifying
Review date: 2008-07-10 Rating: 8 out of 10
what a scary film.I've never heard of this film and I can't think why when it's so good! Normally films of this genre are all the same with the same type of characters and the same general storylines but this had something about it which i thought was really good and it really grabbed me. The action was fast packed and the main character was really haunting and scary. Definately a film to watch if you want a scare, but don't watch it alone.
Michael Mann-Lite
Review date: 2007-05-29 Rating: 4 out of 10
The storyline of this film doesn't offer anything new - hack roles of copper with issues, charismatic serial killer and token female in distress. Despite that, I was drawn to by its (ordinarily strong) cast. Keanu Reeves, when stretched is very good (see A Scanner Darkly and The Gift). Unfortunately, Reeves plays his serial killer as a maturer version of Ted (of Bill and Ted) so didn't strike me as particularly credible.
It's not entirely his fault, the script and screenplay seem to have been cobbled together from a thousand others from the same genre. As such the characters were two dimensional and lacked motivation. If Reeves had any, it was 'You're killing because you've been cast as a killer', and not because his character had pyschopathic tendencies.
Maria Tomsei as the Spader character's psychiatrist lacks the authority that comes with that postion. Her body language during their sessions suggests she's uncomfortable and she'd rather be somewhere else. Hunched up in her chair, she looks faintly embarassed. It's not just her, the entire cast have an air of 'We signed a contract; let's just get this over with.' about them.
Spader, is definitely on screen but is absent in spirit. I can't help wondering if the film would've been any better if Spader and Reeves had switched roles.
This film may have been less dreadful if it didn't have pretension of being directed by Michael Mann. The overpowering and inappropriate music soundtrack destroys any atmosphere built and Charbanic's attempts at homage to (or just plain ripping off) Mann are amateurly executed.
Thoroughly enjoyable
Review date: 2007-05-28 Rating: 10 out of 10
I really liked this film. It came in for a great deal of bad press, not least because Keanu Reeves is frequently the object of criticism, however I happen to think it is unjustified. He is excellent as the handsome self-confident psycopath, photographing his victims whilst stalking them and then cheerfully sending said snaps to mentally ill but recovering cop, James Spader. Spader is set a time limit to find the next victim before KR gives her the "good news".
It was a very watchable film indeed.
Don't miss it.
KR's Watching You
Review date: 2006-07-17 Rating: 6 out of 10
Keanu Reeves [10] James Spader [9] Music [9] Marisa Tomei [8]
KR steals the show an excellent baddie. Spader has a knack of giving a gloss finnish to a weak storyline. Joe Charbonic's let us know who the killer is very early approach was a novel idea but having no trade mark horror signature on the bodies made the killer seem to be almost friendly.
At the end you will probably find that you enjoyed The Watcher but it's not going to make many all time favourites lists.
Nitpicks: We were introduced to our serial monster with a 'How He Works' briefing. We were told he studies his victims for months before taking action. So it was bemusing when suddenly he started picking future victims every other day. And then: Caught on the hop, surrounded with no way out by at least 25 carloads of police and dozens of police marksmen KR hops away across the rooftops like Bert the chimney sweep in Mary Poppins. Although silhouetted nobody saw a thing.
That said i'm glad i did watch it & a Keanu Reeves film that everyone can understand really gives you chance to apreciate his acting talents. JimP
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Keanu Reeves
Ernie Hudson
Chris Ellis
James Spader
Marisa Tomei
Creators:
James Spader (Primary Contributor)
Keanu Reeves (Primary Contributor)
Brian Benson (Producer)
Christopher Eberts (Producer)
Clark Peterson (Producer)
David Elliot (Producer)
David Elliot (Writer)
Clay Ayers (Writer)
Darcy Meyers (Writer)
Director(s):
Recording label: Universal Pictures UK
Manufacturer: Universal Pictures UK
EAN: 0044007832226
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL, Widescreen,
Release date: 2002-02-18
Universal product code (UPC): 044007832226
Number of discs: 1
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 93 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2000-09-08
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: English (Original Language)