The Gift
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Movie Reviews of The Gift
Movie Review: Another Sam Raimi, low-budget HIT!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I really like this film. I really like ghost stories. My favorite ghost films aren't available on DVD, and the incredible Sam Raimi created the perfect atmosphere to keep me sated until they do. Billy Bob Thornton's script had every element needed to satisfy this crave, and Raimi assembled an incredible ensemble to execute the final result. Cate Blanchett is magnificent (as always), and she takes you down her road of discovery with innocence and conviction. The biggest surprise, of course, is Keanu Reeves. HE CAN ACT! It was a treat to see him let down some barriers and create this horrible monster of a character. The entire ensemble is amazing (Greg Kinnear, Hilary Swank, Katie Holmes, Gary Cole), but aside from Blanchett, acting honors must go to Giovanni Ribisi as the sweet, confused village idiot ready to go over the edge. Michael Jeter also shines as a reprehensible defense attorney. I hate it when people blab away plot points, so I won't do that. What Raimi has done is to take a wonderful story and give it his own inimitable spooky touch. Everyone is suspect, and I was shocked, scared and surprised at how it all evolved. Until THE HAUNTING ('63), THE INNOCENTS ('61) or THE UNINVITED ('44) are available, this would be your best bet on DVD. This is pretty much of a folk tale, but if you're looking for a recent honest-to-goodness Haunted House story, you might check out THE OTHERS (Nicole Kidman). The DVD transfer is excellent ( a good 1.85:1 LBX, like most indies), there's one of those gratuitous "extras", where the cast and director all talk about how wonderful each other was; a music video by Neko Case & Her Boyfriends (very folksy), and some trailers. One interesting note (to me, anyway): Giovanni Ribisi was nominated for Best Supporting Actor by the Independent Film Awards; other than that, I know of no other awards recognition.Movie Review: First-Rate Thriller
Summary: 5 Stars
Though I seem to be in the minority on this one, THE GIFT was one of the most exceptionally made films that I've seen in quite some time. Working with a script that has a twist for every turn that's made, Sam Raimi manages to provide several neat twists to what could have been a really tired story. The crux of the film is that there has been a murder in the film's small Georgia town, and with no leads, the police resort to seeking the counsel of the local psychic, played by Blanchett. As with most of her previous work, Cate Blanchett again owns the movie--unlike some of her contemporaries(namely the talented but sometimes ill-used Gwyneth Paltrow), Blanchett manages to flesh out any character that she's given, no matter how bad of a stinker movie she's in, but lucky for us she's in a pretty good one here. The rest of the casting is a mixed bag somewhat. Greg Kinnear plays the male lead, effective but not extraordinary, and the same can be said of Katie Holmes, sporting an overripe Southern accent as his fiancee. Keanu Reeves surprises as a backwoods wife-beater--he makes the best of a small role, easily his best acting since MY OWN PRIVATE IDAHO(it's sometimes hard to forget that at one point in his career he actually ACTED). Oscar winner Hilary Swank plays Reeves' human punching bag, in a variation on her BOYS DON'T CRY role-she's also memorable, but needs to branch out from playing these victim roles. Rounding out the cast, Giovanni Ribisi again overracts in his umpteenth role as a mentally challenged individual, this time playing a client of Blanchett's psychic character. Again, Blanchett holds this superb film together--shame on the Oscars for not recognizing genre films, because Blanchett gave a truly nuanced, Oscar-worthy performance.Movie Review: great film
Summary: 5 Stars
While the Gift is a very entertaining film, it does have somewhat of a Lifetime Movie Network quality to it. That's not to say the acting skills are below average or anything- the acting *is* actually really good. Maybe it's the storyline giving off somewhat of a low budget feel, despite being interesting enough to watch the entire way through.
Or actually, it's probably the feeling that the film writers were holding back a bit and unwilling to accurately portray how violent a few of the segments REALLY could be, making the movie almost appropriate for regular TV (despite a few nasty words being thrown around occasionally, of course).
It's about a psychic woman living in a small town with her three kids, and she predicts events that eventually happen which means -because she lives in a small town perhaps- everyone accuses her of being a witch.
Throughout the movie there's certain troublemakers she has to deal with, such as one of her patients violent and abusive husbands, who dominates the first half of the movie by constantly threatening the psychic woman and accusing her of being a witch. The second half of the movie involves a court case and the town police over who murdered this one woman and threw her body in a lake.
The courtroom scene dragged about five minutes too long, but other than that, this movie had a bunch of highlights. It's mostly a film for adults, thanks to a few really violent scenes, and of course, the occasional strong cussing doesn't help matters either. Good movie.
Movie Review: Oh WOW THE CAST!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Cate Blanchett!! Giovanni Ribisi!! Keanu Reeves (yes, even Keanu Reeves!)!! Hilary Swank!! My old favorite second banana, Greg Kinnear!! I almost passed out just watching this movie for the acting alone.This movie, not the "greatest movie ever made", but very entertaining none the less, has the cast from HEAVEN. I mean, these people know what the heck they are doing in every scene. How refreshing.
Cate Blanchett plays a small town southern widow who possesses the "Gift" of second sight, and she picks up money to support her kids by reading cards for the locals. Because, due to this, she is intimate with so many people in town, and because she apparently was blessed with a giving nature and natural kindness, she becomes embroiled in a messy set of life problems: wife abuse (Keanu Reeeves looking sinister in a beard, and Hilary Swank looking like a sort of anorexic Erin Brockovich-type character), mental disintegration (Giovanni Rubisi in a kickbutt performace--keep your eye on him--he is awesome), and finally, a nasty murder case involving the town slut.
Some of the shooting and the dream sequence scenes are really quite scary, and I think the direction by Sam Raimi had a lot to do with the quality of this film, which could have gone under with nothing to offer, but...oooo that cast. If you want to see fine acting, rent this movie. It knocked my platform mules off and actually got me excited. I'll be waiting for the next film with Rubisi in it, and also Blanchett. This much is certain.
Movie Review: Such a deal!
Summary: 5 Stars
One of the best things about movies on DVD for home entertainment-is that you can outright own a movie for a nominal
price. "The Gift" is the perfect example. Check out the price "used and new" on this site, yourself.
The other important thing is,because this movie is nearly 10 years old, you can check out all the critical reviews
that the movie garnered upon it's theatrical release. The only one I was able to find that "goes right to the HEART of the matter" for this film, is by Frederick and Mary Ann Brussat. You can find it yourself on the Spirituality and
Practice: Resources For Spiritual Journey movie review site.
Start there... then don't hesitate, watch the movie.
The single most important fact about "The Gift" is Cate Blanchett's sublime, beautifully nuanced performance of Annie Wilson. That's about all I have to say.
Oh-one other thing.
"The Gift" saves it's finest moment for last.
The movie's concluding sequence: when Annie is finally able to return to her family and her own emotional needs is one of the most consummately,superb I have ever seen onscreen-indelible and perfect.
Bravo! "The Gift". Act now!! D. R. Beynon 9/13/10
Wilson