Feb 07, 2003 11:53 PM
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(Updated Feb 08, 2003 12:12 AM)
Review on ''The Others'' stg Nicole Kidman, watched on Star Movies, Friday 21:00 PM
Nicole Kidman stars as Grace Stewart, an overly protective mother of two whose children have a rare disease that demands they be kept from bright light. She hires three new caretakers to help around the house (actually, a mansion), but not long afterward, that's when the ''others'' arrive. This old-fashioned chiller set in the late 1940's is a decent attempt at emanating the filmmaking style of the haunted house movies of the 70's. The film is undeniably atmospheric and there is a quiet tension that's almost impeccable.
The way Amenabar has crafted the story is so intelligent that you cannot help admiring how his story works backwards, with the end providing the pivotal point for the beginning of real entertainment and correct perspective. You begin to love the film after the movie ends--somewhat like the narrative structure of ''The Usual Suspects.'' The film continues to entertain the viewer after the film has ended as the viewer is forced to pick up the clues thrown at the audience as the film progressed on the impending end. The overall effect this movie produces is a scary and moving, touching one. There are those moments where you can be on the edge of your seat and those other times where you feel yourself tearing up at the destruction the war has caused.
Sets and costumes were perfect for that era, and the lighting especially sticks out when chase scenes within and outside of the dark, creepy house begin. The lighting was crucial to the overall effect, because you are put in that view that the children have had their entire lives: a dim, eerie light.
This is a European film in style and far removed from Hollywood's predictable approach to mystery, supernatural, aliens, etc. This style is what makes the film outstanding in the genre--it provides entertainment by teasing your senses and perception of what is real. Even when dealing with a supernatural subject it exudes a pristine charm of children and Bible readings. As the film progresses you note that often initial elements of charm hides a not-so-innocent mind (Flanagan's character Bertha Mills, Kidman's character Grace, etc.).
Kidman is lovely to look at. Yet she is only truly impressive when a good director is in charge (first Kubrick in ''Eyes Wide Shut'', and now Amenabar).
The strengths of this film also lie in the art direction, sound editing (superb), and cinematography.
It really made you think and it was a great horror movie. All great movies make you think, not like Scream or I Know What You Did Last Summer, both of which are terribly predictable. There are so many twists and turns in this movie
ACTING: The acting in this film is absolutely amazing! Kidman puts on an extremely convincing performance as Grace. By far the best she has ever done. Fionulla Flanagan (is that what it is) is also exceptional and Ed Sykes is great and adds some humour to the movie without being stupid or ridiculous. But the absolute stars of the show were Alakina Mann and James Bentley as Graces two children! The acting these youngsters put on is absolutely MINDBLOWING!!! Mann (who plays Anne) is unspeakably brilliant as Anne and is totally convincing. It is very difficult to describe her performance. It is brilliant beyond words. Bentley, who plays Nicholas, is absolutely jawdroppingly brilliant also. He looks genuinely terrified in the suspense scenes. These two actors deserve a future in acting. But as we all know, most of the best kid actors end up going nowhere (see Danny Loydd from The Shining or Linda Blair from The Excorcist.) But enough of that now.
For the year 2001, Nicole Kidman recieved an Oscar nomination for her role in the very overrated movie ''Moulin Rouge.'' I thought that her performance in this ghost thriller was by far one of the best performances I have ever seen that year
The Direction was very unique and different, very elegant and dark, and the story was awesome, different entirely from the sixth sense and if this is said to be like sixth sense then pretty much their isnt a ghost movie that isnt like the sixth sense. All in all an excellent movie which will give you an erie feeling for long after the twisted ending. But the real kicker in this movie, I must say is Alakina Mann, as Grace's defiant, and yet bone-chillingly enigmatic, daughter Grace
