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Overall Rating : 4/10
Directed By : Nikolai Lebedev
Anne Archer (Man of the House)
Kip Pardue (Thirteen)
Agnes Bruckner (Venom)
Mia Kirshner (The Black Dahlia)
Supplied By : MTI Home Video
Film Reviewed By : Rick L. Blalock
Date Reviewed : Jun. 12, 2006
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| PLOT Ten years ago, Sarah Hathaway's gifted and troubled son, suddenly disappeared from their home in Los Angeles. Unable to deal with the doubt and guilt, her life is overcome by haunting dreams about him. Finally, after many years, a new clue turns up as to his possible whereabouts. Convinced that her son is now living abroad, she travels to Russia to begin her desperate search. In the face of ongoing danger against the backdrop of St. Petersburg's stark beauty, Sarah, guided by a mysterious mute street boy, is determined not to leave knowing that her son - or the truth - is in reach. |
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| THE REVIEW In THE IRIS EFFECT, Sarah Hathaway's son, Thomas ran away 10 years ago after a nasty fight with his mother. Thomas happened to be a very talented artist, and Sarah believed that he indeed was, but feared he'd never make it in the art world. With 10 years passed since her son's disappearance, Sarah has searched and searched again, until one clue turns up, an art book that contains similar paintings to Thomas'. Sarah then heads to a Russian art gallery to track down her son, when she discovers the artist is not Thomas. While traveling the city of St. Petersburg Russia, she is strangely stalked by a young street boy, whom never speaks a word, but later draws out clues, in the form of pictures, he seems to know something. All of this leads Sarah to an apartment rooftop belonging to the person that is obviously an imposter posing as an artist, there she finds the wife of the man, Katya, whom is seemingly always medicated. While questioning Katya, she begins mumbling something about Thomas... this raises Sarah's determination, and with the young boy, she breaks into the gallery, only to find paintings of a woman that resembles herself....... The film is about as difficult to write about as it is to understand. Reading the synopsis and the press release for this film, I thought I would be set for a wild and twisting suspense ride. This movie happened to remind me of, an ever-so similar titled film... THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT in many ways. The mother, Sarah, played by Anne Archer, whom is a therapist has dreams of her son and needs a little help of her own to sort them out. She has many flashbacks of the night in which Thomas ran away, as well as random visions all over the place that would ultimately tie in to her search later on in the film THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT, also did very similar, it started out suspenseful and stayed put, and still managed to tie up very confusing loose ends, but by the film's end they all finally made sense. With this film, it happened to start out great and mysterious, and it also progressed quite well, but once it got to the "meat" of the plot, it has, so many plot twists, that they just do not make any sense at all....In fact, I still don't understand the film's final scenes. It's a shame that a film, that was really entertaining for the most part had to have twists that really ruin the overall film all together. I love smart, thinking films, but the thing with THE IRIS EFFECT is that it was already off to a promising start, it did not need to over achieve itself, and that's what the filmmakers tried to do. This is one film that you would definitely need to have a commentary track accompany - I unfortunately, didn't have the luxury. Surprisingly good acting going on here however. Anne Archer, is decent here as the troubled mother Sarah Hathaway. I say decent because, yes her performance is good and also believable, but I feel that after awhile her character becomes quite annoying to be honest. Kip Pardue, I feel that he has never really shined in a film, and I really cannot see why. Here Kip plays Paul Bergamo, a cocky "artist", whom isn't as great as he seems. Pardue does a great job of getting into character and using a brash attitude. almost makes you want to kick his ass. Agnes Brucker, has a small but pivotal role here as the "wife" of Paul, who is really in love with Thomas. In the film, Paul and bitchy gallery owner Rebecca, keep her drugged up, so for the most part her character isn't all too coherent. Agnes does a great job with the believability, I just love her anyway, great, great actress and I can't wait to see her in Victor Salva's upcoming feature PEACEFUL WARRIOR. I also liked Mia Kirshner's performance, she played the role of the snotty, "out for money" gallery owner very effective, you can always sense that her character has something to hide, and it it is revealed near the end. Well, I can't say I am whole heartedly disappointed, just rather confused and for the fact that a film with this kind of plot didn't flow easier. |
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| GORE
METER N/A |
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| MUSICAL
SCORE 4.5/10 Most of the score is composed of a very melodic piano track, at times is very well placed. |
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| OVERALL
IMPRESSION OF THE FILM The film starts out very easy going and easy to follow, only to take a few intelligent twists that prove to be too smart for it's own good. I'd recommend this film only to see if anyone else can better understand it than I did. Decent thriller overall... |
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