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K-Pax [2002]


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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

A wonderfully fresh, original piece of work, K-Pax is a film that manages to combine a variety of genres while still maintaining its own unique identity. The premise of alien life on earth may not be a new one, but Ian Softley's movie is a startling new take on the subject. Spacey's Prot is picked up by the police and, when he claims to be a traveller from the planet K-Pax, is delivered to the care of psychiatrist Jeff Bridges. The intense relationship that develops between the two forms the core of the film, as Bridges searches for the truth about his mysterious patient while also gaining valuable insights into his own life. The movie's great strength is that it keeps the audience guessing up until the very end, refusing to offer them an obvious, tidy conclusion.

Spacey is, as ever, fantastic, playing the kind of charismatic oddball that brought him such acclaim in American Beauty and The Usual Suspects. He manages to embody the themes of the film perfectly, imbuing his character with both a rich humanity and an eerie otherworldliness. Bridges (20 years after he played the role of an alien in Starman) is a revelation, reasserting his position as one of Hollywood's great unsung actors. Softley handles the film with precision, with each revelation from Prot's past adding to the mystery of the story, countering the film's dark, moving moments with episodes of real humour and warmth.

On the DVD: K-Pax offers a wealth of treasures on disc. Director Softley provides two commentaries (one for the UK and one for the US) and there is an interesting "making of" featurette that goes beyond the usual platitudes to offer a genuine insight into the creative process. A series of deleted scenes are combined with an alternative ending, though all the material on offer is careful not to spoil the vital ambiguity of the plot's conclusion. All the major participants are interviewed and there is a gallery of still photographs taken by Bridges. The film's often dreamlike visual mood is captured beautifully by the enhanced format; this is undoubtedly a well thought out package. --Phil Udell


must-see movie from a psychiatric ward and another planet
Review date: 2008-08-25 Rating: 10 out of 10

A man is found saying strange things in New York Central Station. The police are called, and although the man seems perfectly affable, he continues to fail to make sense, so they take him to a psychiatric hospital. The man, who calls himself Prot, claims to be visiting Earth. He has left his own planet K-Pax some time ago, and he will have to return there before long. The Chief Psychiatrist at the hospital meets with Prot, and is drawn to him. He conducts long interviews with this self-confessed `alien', convinced that he will be able to unravel whatever trauma has led his patient to construct this extraordinary fantasy world for himself. Prot is phased by nothing, calmly eating his way through an entire fruit-bowl in the course of a session. ("Your fruits on earth are so superior to what we have on K-Pax.") They are about the only thing, however, that meet this description: Prot is fairly dismissive of the mess that human beings have currently made of their planet. K-Pax is more advanced socially, with no wars, no corruption and no poverty. When pressed on the astronomy in the vicinity of K-Pax, he provides wonderful detail that is confirmed by scientists working at the very forefront of their subject. And Prot begins to develop the most healing of relationships with his fellow-patients. Inmates who have been written off years ago start to blossom as Prot prescribes the exact tasks that will heal each person if only they have the courage to carry them out. And then he sets a deadline for his return...

I won't spoil the end of the story for you, and you have the choice between reading Gene Brewer's novel or watching Kevin Spacey in the film. I was left feeling how spiritual this tale is after doing both. As a Christian in secular surroundings, it is hard not to feel a little like Prot sometimes. We are in the world yet not of it, holding fast to a vision of the Kingdom of Heaven yet walking each day in a society that seems to contradict that vision at every turn. The world implicitly tells us that we are neurotics, and that our attachment to this notion of God and his Kingdom is a childish father-fixation that we should try to leave behind. Most people find the `religion' of Freud much more persuasive than Christianity, even if they do not consciously believe they do. The book K-Pax ends by inviting us to make up our minds. Will we accept Prot's description of his visit? Or will we believe the compelling analysis that his counsellor devises to explain Prot's errant world-view? To put it crudely, maybe we ourselves choose between Jesus and Freud in the same kind of way each day.





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Reviews


A magical film with wonderful performances too
Review date: 2008-06-24 Rating: 10 out of 10

There are very few films that I'd describe as magical, but this is one of the few.

Kevin Spacey and Jeff Bridges both put in excellent performances and the supporting cast are all in fine form too.

You could simply say that this film asks one question above anything else is Prot (Kevin Spacey) an alien from the planet K-Pax or is he mentally ill?

This is a very moving, thought provoking, funny and emotional film with some fine music to further enhance all of these emotions.

This is one of those films that I wish were longer as it's such a wonderful film to watch, for some reason this film did not do well at the box office, but as many others have discovered here this is a gem of a film, one that I've watched alot and will continue to do for many years to come.

thought-provoking
Review date: 2008-03-26 Rating: 10 out of 10

Not many movies linger on in my mind long after I've watched them, but K-PAX as seen on FilmFour a few days ago certainly did. To this day I am still wondering if Prot was an alien or not, which perhaps is the point. I would go further in my review but the points I'd like to make contain specific spoilers. Suffice it say it's a truly refreshing, moving and thought-provoking movie. Given the dross that Hollywood frequently puts out, movies like this are a real find and should be cherished by all.

Shaggy Dog Story
Review date: 2007-11-06 Rating: 2 out of 10

Find it hard to understand the other reviews here. This is a movie which wastes your time on a massive shaggy dog story where everyone smiles knowingly and the tinkly piano music comes in at just the right times. It does tell an important story but one we have seen hundreds of times before and told in much better ways by many other films than this, namely "care for your family its the only one you've got". With the money used to pay actors to make this convoluted way of saying this I can't help but think what good could have been done with this wasted money. Watch "The Straight Story" instead if you really want to be moved.

Classic performances from Spacey and Bridges
Review date: 2007-03-20 Rating: 8 out of 10

This film would merit 4.5 stars for me. Kevin Spacey plays 'Prot' and Jeff Bridges play the psychiatrist who is asked to look after him. Prot claims to be an Alien from another planet and (I'm giving nothing away here as this happens immediately the film starts) seems to appear out of nowhere at a train station.

Spacey and Bridges are brilliant actors and as a pairing you couldn't ask for better casting than this. Sure there are bigger stars, but the film wouldn't have been as good without these two. The film leaves you to make up your own mind about Prot. Could he be autistic? This is one possibility to explain his talents. However you'll have to see the film to decide whether he's an Alien or not.

In some ways this is a sister film to John Carpenter's Starman in which Jeff Bridges played the Alien. Like that earlier film K-Pax is both moving and wonderous. I have watched it many times and still can't understand why neither of the leading Actors received any recognition in terms of the major film awards (Oscars, Cannes etc). In 2002 Denzel Washington (a fine actor) won the Oscar for Training Day - nope I don't don't understand that either!

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Alfre Woodard
Jeff Bridges
Mary McCormack
Kevin Spacey
David Patrick Kelly

Creators:
Kevin Spacey (Primary Contributor)
Jeff Bridges (Primary Contributor)
Gene Brewer (Producer)
Gene Brewer (Writer)
Lawrence Gordon (Producer)
Lloyd Levin (Producer)
Michael Levy (Producer)
Robert F. Colesberry (Producer)
Charles Leavitt (Writer)

Director(s):

Recording label: Cinema Club
Manufacturer: Cinema Club
EAN: 5014138039554
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Anamorphic, PAL, Widescreen,
Release date: 2004-01-05
Number of discs: 1
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 116 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2001-10-26
Language: English (Subtitles For The Hearing Impaired)
Language: English (Original Language)

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