K-PAX
Seen: 2001-11-02
Overall: ***
Writing: *** 1/2
Acting: ****
Cinematography: ***
Music: ***
Direction: ***
Originality: ** 1/2
Enjoyment: *** 1/2
Conditions: ***
Venue: AMC Flatiron Crossing 14
Medium: Silver Screen
More Info
K-PAX is an interesting fusion between the genres of
psychological drama and scifi story. Although at times
it seems like aspects of the plot are left underexplored,
while other sections drag a bit long, I like the way
the movie stays true to itself to the very end.
A man gets admitted into a mental hospital
because of some very strange statements to the police
after he witnesses a mugging in a train station. He
claims to be an alien from the planet K-PAX, 1000 light
years from Earth. He is on a "visit" to
earth, and always wears sunglasses outside because the
light is brighter than on his own world. He appears to
be completely rational, alert, and aware of his
surroundings, and shows no signs of mental dysfunction.
Except, of course, for the part about continuously
insisting that he comes from another planet.
As always, Kevin Spacey does a very fine acting job
here. Charismatic, witty, featuring some absolutely
hilarious comic moments, he's perfect for the part of
the super-rational nutcase could-be alien. He really
makes the movie.
There are some aspects of the plot which stretch the
limits of mental ward cliché, although that
doesn't mean they don't work well. The most obvious
example of this is the way all the patients become
enamored with the odd little hero figure, while the
establishment seeks to squelch that which they cannot
control. (Thankfully, the latter aspect is gracefully
understated for most of the movie.)
Jeff Bridges plays the doctor who attends to Prot, and
the two of them develop an interesting dialog as the
story goes on. Gradually, the things Prot says begin
to convince the doctor that maybe he really knows
something. Could it be that this lunatic really is
telling the truth? Bridges does a good job of not
tipping his hand (to Prot or the audience) as to
how convinced he is at any given time. Like us, he is
a skeptical observer, taken in by Prot's charisma, amused
by his antics, but always reserving judgement as to why
this mental patient seems to possess such a vast array of
esoteric knowledge and insight.
Like I said above, the ending is fitting, true to the
movie. Not a flawless film, but definitely one worth
checking out. Love that Sheryl Crow song on the end credits
too. I turned off the radio on the way home just so I
could keep hearing it echo through my head.
K-PAX is an interesting fusion between the genres of psychological drama and scifi story. Although at times it seems like aspects of the plot are left underexplored, while other sections drag a bit long, I like the way the movie stays true to itself to the very end.
A man gets admitted into a mental hospital because of some very strange statements to the police after he witnesses a mugging in a train station. He claims to be an alien from the planet K-PAX, 1000 light years from Earth. He is on a "visit" to earth, and always wears sunglasses outside because the light is brighter than on his own world. He appears to be completely rational, alert, and aware of his surroundings, and shows no signs of mental dysfunction. Except, of course, for the part about continuously insisting that he comes from another planet.
As always, Kevin Spacey does a very fine acting job here. Charismatic, witty, featuring some absolutely hilarious comic moments, he's perfect for the part of the super-rational nutcase could-be alien. He really makes the movie.
There are some aspects of the plot which stretch the limits of mental ward cliché, although that doesn't mean they don't work well. The most obvious example of this is the way all the patients become enamored with the odd little hero figure, while the establishment seeks to squelch that which they cannot control. (Thankfully, the latter aspect is gracefully understated for most of the movie.)
Jeff Bridges plays the doctor who attends to Prot, and the two of them develop an interesting dialog as the story goes on. Gradually, the things Prot says begin to convince the doctor that maybe he really knows something. Could it be that this lunatic really is telling the truth? Bridges does a good job of not tipping his hand (to Prot or the audience) as to how convinced he is at any given time. Like us, he is a skeptical observer, taken in by Prot's charisma, amused by his antics, but always reserving judgement as to why this mental patient seems to possess such a vast array of esoteric knowledge and insight.
Like I said above, the ending is fitting, true to the movie. Not a flawless film, but definitely one worth checking out. Love that Sheryl Crow song on the end credits too. I turned off the radio on the way home just so I could keep hearing it echo through my head.