film: review

> PANIC ROOM (2002)
Will David Fincher ever direct a bad movie? This stylized, suspense-filled thriller kept my full attention from beginning to end.

By John C. Lyons
Film Critic

Starring: Jodie Foster, Forest Whitaker, Jared Leto, and Dwight Yoakam

Directed by: David Fincher

Written by: David Koepp

Genre: Thriller

Our Rating: 9 out of 10

Panic Room is about as "mainstream" as a David Fincher film is going to get, and even though it was a little toned down, I was still thoroughly entertained. Following his previous releases (which include Fight Club, Se7en, and The Game) Fincher has been gaining more and more of a reputation as one of the true defining visionaries in modern cinema, and rightfully so. Take the "look" of a Fincher picture, the emotion that he packs into a single second of screen time, the dark colors and lighting, the exceptional acting, the plot twists, etc etc. The point is I could go on and on. This film is yet another fine example of this young director's talents, and another reason why I love the movies.

This thriller follows the story of Meg (Jodie Foster) and Sarah Altman (Kristen Stewart) who move into a new (huge!) home in Manhattan which holds a secret room in which the movie's title comes from. Both do a superb job. Foster plays it wonderfully and with intensity, and I was quite impressed by Stewart also, who I haven't seen before. And the villains (Whitaker, Leto, and Yoakam) are just as convincing in their roles; oftentimes they share some truly hilarious scenes. The film wastes no time in catching the audience up with their stories. Meg has just recently divorced her rich husband and Sarah (her daughter) makes the move with her. The panic room is a room constructed with separate power, air ventilation, phone line, video monitors…you get the point. The room is introduced with such detail and explanation that it is basically a character of its own. It's a place where rich people can hide if they are in trouble, a place that no one can break into, or so it seems. Very soon the panic room comes into play as three burglars break into the house in search of a stash of cash supposedly hidden in the house. In no time we are audience to an amazingly smart cat and mouse game between the women and the men.

I never tell too much in a Fincher film, because there is so much that should not be given away, but I will say this, the same elements we have all come to love from his prior films are here as well. The plot twists, the dark humor, the amazing visual effects. Done so well in this movie, that you cannot tell when a moment switches from real shot film to CGI, as the camera sweeps throughout the house, through keyholes and partially open doors too small for a camera to fit through. The acting is top notch too. You feel for the mother and daughter every step of the way and the intensity level is turned up so high that at points in the movie you could hear the audience making little noises to try and help the women on screen. Something you only experience in a movie that is done to perfection.

Maybe finally David Fincher will start getting some of the mainstream recognition he deserves after this film. No one liked Alien 3 because of the shocking ending (I for one loved it). Se7en was his biggest financial success; however many were turned off from its dark content. The Game was an amazing film that no one saw. Fight Club, well don't get me started, just look around this website and you'll see that I worship this film. I can't wait to see what this guy does next! Will it be the behind the scenes story of big city restaurants and their secrets starring Brad Pitt? The re-teaming with Chuck Palahniuk for the adaptation of the novel Chemical Pink? The next Mission:Impossible flick? Keep making movies Mr. Fincher, and don't ever lose that edge that puts you above the rest.

I saw this film at the Tinseltown theaters on upper Peach Street in Erie.

PROs: The cast, the script, the style, the intensity, and the suspense!

CONs: I felt the scene with the police was a little too lengthy and slowed the film down briefly, and there could have been a little more screen time between them moving in and then the burglars breaking in. Had these 2 things been done I would have given a "10", easily.

(02-0330

related links:

Panic Room - official site