Dooyoo know what, its a great movie (Eye Of The Beholder (DVD))

Member Name: blackhawk

Product:	Eye Of The Beholder (DVD)
Date:	09/03/01 (15 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: visually stylish, easy on the eyes

Disadvantages: acting doesn't always hit the high notes

Open your eyes, give your brains some spring cleaning and then rent this film again. For were you three reputable dooyooers really watching the same film as me? If so, then so many years of being fed "Star Trek", "Star Wars" and "Forrest Gump" must have done your intellectual functions some permanent harm. "Eye of the Beholder" was one of the most entertaining, cleverly-written, well-directed, beautifully-photographed, mystically-acted and melodically-scored films of the last few years. It gripped me right from the opening credits and never let go. The screenplay was crisp and only included as much dialogue as was needed to further the plot. Many aspects of the plot were intentionally left to viewer deduction, meaning that it requires a bit more audience participation than is usual with standard Hollywood fare.

It is true that Evan McGregor's was miscast. The script calls for someone middle-aged so that the business with lost daughter/ surrogate daughter/guardian angel topics could really click. Actually the lady at the reception desk of the pension Joanna lives near the beginning makes that fact obvious by saying that he is her age which must be at least mid-40s judging by her physical appearance. Thus the whole above-mentioned psychological context becomes suspended in the air because looking as young as he does Eye can only be Joanna's lover, not her father and to the viewer he simply appears like a nutcase obsessed with his assignment.

If the creators of the film would be held responsible for anything it could only be their casting of the male lead. Every other aspect of the film, including the casting of the other lead, the gorgeous Ashley Judd is faultless. She is really believable in all her various disguises and plays the character with just the right amount of mystery. kd Lang gives her usual down-to-earth sassiness to her character and is actually the only realistic element in this film whi
ch carries a dreamy atmosphere all the time.

The photography and the special effects are simply gorgeous. The cinema is first and foremost a visual medium and any film that creates a distinctive visual landscape must be considered worthy in my opinion, whatever its other faults may be. In this regard "Eye of the Beholder" is a classic, consisting of beautiful imagery for all of its running time. The sound design is faultless. The use and selection of music are also wonderful, greatly enhanced by the electronic score and the haunting ballad sung by Chrissie Hynde. Last but not least, the costume design is also excellent, giving Ashley Judd an incredible femme fatale look ranging from the 30s to the 90s.

This film should enjoy TV success in the years to come. Enjoy it on video while it lasts.

Summary: