The Gift that keeps on taking. Calling this movie "The Gift" is ironic because the script is gifted at taken things for granted.

      The writers, Billy Bob Thornton and Tom Epperson, have given us a story attempting to interpret the extra-natural abilities of the mind and its affective (characterized by emotion) ability on a human being's objectivity. I suppose this may have been their intention--to show you the human side, which they estimate to be the helplessly weak side, forced to handle (and mishandle) special mental abilities.

      You see, they open "The Gift" with the suggestion that this film may be a slow, mystical, mystery. Quickly, quickly anger comes in via boredom to get thee.

      Everyone wants to capture the "Sixth Sense" audience and even a classic horror master like Sam Raimi is not immune. "The Gift" seems to be going that way by giving us a Raimi/Shyamalan convergence of sorts and things start to get a bit interesting. As an example, we see such a convergence in the visions of Annie Wilson, played by Cate Blanchett. Some of these visions are filtered in while others present themselves bluntly.

      This film gets a suspense approval rating of 75%, whatever that means.

THE ACTING/PERFORMANCE PART

      Bringing up a slow build of fermented, torturous anger is Buddy Cole played by Giovanni Ribisi. His role here is reminiscent of his appearance on one of the early X-Files's episodes (see the one named "D.P.O." that came out in 1995). In the X-Files, he played a walking lightning rod; lightening may have helped "The Gift."

      Someone who should be on the X-Files, Keanu Reeves plays Donnie Barksdale. His explosive temper performance causes one to raise an eyebrow at this acclaimed underdog. Makes you wonder what this guy would really be like as an actor, if he dug deep and focused on his craft with passion.

THE FINAL WORD/CONCLUSION

      Why do certain aspects of this movie bother me? Well, because this is a movie that just plain insults the premise of Metaphysics, Metalogic, common sense, practicality, cause and effect, emotional stability without proper cause, and human ability without objective effect. This movie was staged. It's an attempt to get one over on us. To make us believe that Annie Wilson's reaction to her gift is to be sympathized with and understood. We are asked to pardon her mishandling, her pathetic bumbling of her responsibilities. After all, "she's a mom and her clouded judgment is only natural". I'm sorry Billy, Tom, Sam, and Jamie Anderson, the Cinematographer, don't even try it. The universe just doesn't unfold like that. Where is the justice?

Of course, one could interpret this picture as being simply brilliant. A realistic depiction of art imitating life.

Please!

Anyway, say it with me everyone, "who am I and what do I know?"

chaosborn, 2000