Rating: 
Summary: Paranormal Whodunnit
Review: As if we didn't have enough ghostly little tales in the past few years (The Sixth Sense, Stir Of Echoes, etc.), another comes down the pike with an interesting twist - the main character doesn't see ghosts, but she definitely knows when people are going to die. The idea for the story supposedly based upon the psychic abilities of Virginia Faulkner Thornton (Billy Bob Thornton's mother - she predicted his Oscar win), "The Gift" is a trim little package of murder, trepidation and the supernatural, peppered with an all-star cast and crew of Oscar winners (Swank, Thornton) and nominees (Blanchett, Kinnear, Harris). Annie Wilson (Blanchett) is a humble mother of three quietly making a living in fictional Brixton, GA off of social security from her husband's death and performing psychic readings for the townspeople. Her recitations consist of one burning taper and a bizarre deck of cards with various symbols (star, circle, wavy lines, etc.) printed on them. Her abilities as a clairvoyant are honest and true but (wouldn't you know it) Brixton is a backwoods community full of conservatives, skeptics and zealous Christians that believe the reserved widow is a practicing witch. One man in particular named Donnie Barksdale (Reeves) harbors a special hatred for Annie because his battered wife Valerie (Swank) has been visiting the psychic's home on a regular basis to receive readings. Donnie harasses Annie, making direct threats to her and her sons and even breaking into her home to creatively render the word "Satan" with her cosmic deck. When Jessica King, the aristocratic daughter (Holmes) of a Brixton bigwig, turns up missing Annie has a vision that will help the BPD locate her. She is at first snubbed by the chief of police for her marked reputation but when authorities finally take a chance on her, Jessica's body is found on Donnie Barksdale's property and he is immediately taken into custody for her murder. There's a bigger game afoot however, and Annie must single-handedly solve the mystery before the killer attempts to silence her permanently. Blanchett does her best to look simultaneously frightened and determined as Annie, a woman who is against all odds. We already have proof of her abilities as a dramatic actress (Elizabeth, Paradise Road) and she is not disappointing here, sporting a decent Georgian accent and making her character human despite her inhuman abilities. Holmes looks too young for her role and it's hard to fathom the chemistry between the 22-year-old actress and her 38-year-old co-star Kinnear (my husband even remarked that she looked like a teenager wearing her mother's clothes). It's even more weird to see her sexing up "Office Space" yeeah-guy Gary Cole (who is 45) in a scene involving bathroom whoopie. I guess it's just another case of casting directors pitting a beautiful ingénue with a handsome fogey twice their age (a la Richard Gere/Winona Ryder, Bo Derek/Dudley Moore, etc.). Kinnear does an admirable job as Wayne Collins, but a project like this is too simple an undertaking for his acting skills; most likely it was a labor of love for him. Reeves actually manages to himself seem intimidating as Donnie Barksdale and Swank plays another dimwitted southerner minus the sexual identity crisis. Oscar nominee Rosemary Harris makes a brief appearance as Blanchett's intuitive grandmother. Ribisi is the standout here as the erratic Buddy Cole, a man who is consistently on the precipice of a psychological meltdown. He is a blubbering, tearful mess one minute, hot-blooded and precarious the next. What is really compelling about Ribisi's performance is the inner turmoil divulged in his roan and expressive eyes. We know all we need to know about his character's struggle to stay sane simply by surveying his face. Not a lot of actors have the ability to embody their characters in this way and Ribisi is to be commended for making Buddy a dynamic and remarkable individual. Although he has yet to get the Academy's attention, the future looks incredibly bright for him and it's almost certain that he will become a hot commodity in the next few years. "The Gift" delivers most of what it promises but sci-fi/horror fans will most likely be disappointed by its artsy approach (compliments of director Sam Raimi), its failure to scare the bejesus out of them (The Gift has MINOR scares) and its sad predictability. The story manages to point an accusing finger at everyone but about halfway through (or even sooner) it's easy to identify the culprit. If you're looking for a semi-suspenseful flick with a distinct and talented cast, "The Gift" is an ideal and enjoyable rent.
Rating: 
Summary: What a Cast!
Review: Okay, so the plot may have been predictable, but the performances in this movie are excellent. I have rarely seen a movie with such perfect roles for its cast. Even Keanu Reves (believe it or not) does an excellent job as the intimidating wife-beater. This is definately one for the suspense collection!
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable & Unique
Review: This movie is one of Giovanni Ribisi's best performances ever. His talent really shows in this role. Not to mention Hilary Swank, who is excellent in just about everything. A great thriller and an excellent cast of characters that keeps you watching until the end!
Rating: 
Summary: A RURAL GOTHIC THRILLER...
Review: This is an interesting movie with a stellar cast. The performances are notable, particularly that of Giovanni Ribisi, who plays a mentally troubled auto mechanic who is on the verge of a complete meltdown. Keanu Reeves also does a star turn, as Hilary Swank's abusive and philandering husband. Cate Blanchett is excellent as the young, impoverished widow with kids, who just happens to have psychic gifts. The always underrated Greg Kinnear gives his usual excellent performance. The action takes place in a rural Georgia town, where Cate reads cards for clients in an attempt to make ends meet. Hilary Swank is one of Cate's clients. Cate counsels her to leave her abusive and womanizing husband, played by Keanu Reeves. This just earns Cate the emnity of Keanu, who begins a campaign of terror against her. Cate also reads cards for Giovanni Ribisi, who is a standout with his dazzling performance in the role of a mentally traumatized young man, whom Cate treats kindly. Cate is called to her son's school one day, where she meets with Greg Kinnear over something her son did. While there, she meets meets his kittenish fiancee, well played by Katie Holmes, who recognizes Cate as the local psychic and asks what she sees in their future. What Cate sees does not bode well for them. When Kinnear's fiancee predictably turns up murdered, the hunt is on for her killer. The obvious suspect is Keanu Reeves, who is tried and convicted for the murder, after Cate testifies at his trial. You see, the body was found in a pond on his property, after Cate had a vision about it, and Keanu had been having an affair with her and had been the last person known to have seen the deceased alive. After the trial, however, Cate has visions that lead her to believe that the real killer has escaped justice. While there are a number of red herrings that are thrown the viewer's way, the viewer should have no trouble zeroing in on the real killer. What is surprising is the way Cate escapes death at the hands of that killer. Therein lies the real surprise. Viewers should enjoy this quirky, though interesting, film.
Rating:
Summary: OK movie with one big redeeming factor!
Review: The movie was very watchable ,but the best thing about it was seeing the lovely katie holmes topless! I recommend it even for just this reason!
Rating: 
Summary: The lowest of all time...
Review: I was reluctant to go and see this movie in the first place because i knew it would be low and humiliating. Sure enough , the movie uses all the known technicks for an all-american , kitchi , not surprising horror film. as to reeves , even though he is definitelly not my favorite actor , i felt sympathy and mercy for such a pathetic preformance. DO NOT SEE THIS MOVIE
Rating:
Summary: What Lies Beneath in the South
Review: If you have seen Harrison Ford's movie What Lies Beneath you have seen this movie. The plot has several twists and you will be guessing 'witch' psycho did it till the end.Worth watching then trade it back in.
Rating:
Summary: if it had only been a bit more original
Review: This film, directed by Evil Dead guru, Sam Raimi, features a surprisingly well-rounded cast, with no weak links. Even Keanu Reeves, who've been known to ruin a film or two before, fits his role. Cate Blanchet, the lead, and Greg Kinnear are both superb. THE GIFT also contains some pretty impressive photography. It's a visually beautiful film. One of my favourite shots in the film is when Cate Blanchet has a vision of a dead Katie Holmes "swimming" in a tree. Sam Raimi also proves that he's still a pretty brilliant director when it comes to suspense. A lot of directors seems to think that everything needs to be completely dark for things to get scary. Raimi proves them wrong by having Blanchet turn on the light, which any reasonable person in real life would have done, when she enters her house suspecting there might be an intruder in there, and still he manages to create a fairly suspenseful moment. What's so sad about this film is that the plot is not very original. It's easy to figure out where things are going. You can early on tell who the killer is. THE GIFT would have been a fantastic film if its story was more thought out. Now its only mediocre. A shame...
Rating:
Summary: Blanchett redeems a lacklustre yarn
Review: Cate Blanchett is turning out to be the new Julie Christie of the new century, and that's no small shakes. Unfortunately, she's about all there is to recommend this disappointing 'psychic thriller' which struggles along for almost two hours with a bunch of Southern Gothic cliches that have been cobbled together. Maybe Billy Bob had some great ideas that got compromised in the studio development process by a couple of Prada-clad Gen X D-girls, and it all fell apart. Who can tell? What is certain is that this ain't no "Don't Look Now", a film against which all psychic thrillers must be measured; it ain't even "Wise Blood". And it certainly ain't "Sling Blade." It's pleasant enough and engaging at turns until the final reel, when all the plot contrivances start banging into each other like derailed train cars. Ka-noo actually delivers a good performance, or a performance, one must qualify, but the portrayal of Southerners is shallow Hollywood-phoned-in cliche as usual - except for Cate Blanchett, of course, who brings great dimension to anything she takes on (check her touching 'socialite' role out in 1999's "Ripley"). THE GIFT had much promise, but like last year's DISMAL "Unbreakable" (Unbearable!), the metaphysics got compromised by the marketers, and D-girls and boys (burp) it seems, in order to get that market share, and the final product reflects little more than contrivance and confusion. Granted, everything else out there is so awful that it stands as acceptable in comparison. Billy Bob Thornton's ALL THE PRETTY HORSES was tender and restrained; he is a fine director, and Sam Raimi holding the reins here is no slouch. The script remains the terrible problem, for which I am certain some D-boy or girl has already received a promotion to vice-president.
Rating:
Summary: Loves parts, had me yelling at the TV on others...
Review: This movie had an overall good story. Cate Blanchet and Giovanni Ribisi were my fave throught the movie, providing great performances. The rest of the cast was, well, average. The thing that had me the most annoyed was that Cate Blanchet's character, although having the "gift" to see things, would let a wife-beater into her house at night with her children around while he threatens here, follow a man to a swampy river (AT NIGHT!) by herself (which was practically her death)... I kept screaming at the tv "No! You know better than that!". Loved the trippy ending, which sorta reminded me of the Sixth Sense.
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