Rating: 
Summary: Douglas As Another Socialite?!
Review: When you think of someone to play a rich, sophisticated socialite, you immediatley think of Michael Douglas. We've seen him do it in "Wall Street", "A Perfet Murder", and "The Game". Well, he's back at it again. I guess you can't deny a guy for doing something he does so well. Douglas plays Nathan Conrad, a very well respected New York Psychiatrist. He has a cute daughter, and a pretty wife who is holed up in bed with a broken leg. Things get nasty when a an ex-con named Patrick(Sean Bean)kidnaps Douglas' daughter. It seems he needs Douglas' services as a psychiatrist to get thru to a mentally troubled teen named Elizabeth(wonderfully played by Brittany Murphy). This girl holds the key to a where a prized jewel is hidden. Patrick had killed Elizabeth's father right in front of her when she was just a little girl. Director Gary Fleder("Kiss The Girls")films his movie very predictably. It's routine and by the numbers. The saving grace to this film is the climax that takes place in an old, rickety cemetary. The script is basic and the plot points can be seen a mile away. We've seen this a few hundred times already. Fleder does nothing to give the movie a more stand out feel to it. Adds nothing. It seems as if he is phone calling in his job. The actors fare so much better here than the film. They all make it watchable. Douglas can do no wrong when it comes to being the uppity uppity guy who finds himself in trouble. He's made it interesting and watchable in the past, and he does it again here. Famke Janssen as his wife, is pretty much left nothing to do but lay in bed and look worried. She is given nothing to really do. What a waste. Reliable veteran actor Oliver Platt is in the same category as Famke. He is given a nothing character and has nowhere to go with it. It just flounders there. His character is typical and we know where it's gonna go. Sean Bean is one of the saving graces. The guy can do a convincing bad guy. Good job. Then there is Brittany Murphy. There is no doubt that she is a fine actress and will one day be even better. I had no idea when I first saw her in "Clueless" that she would be where she is now. She is very real and convincing as the troubled teen. She is the best thing this movie has going for it. She does a great job and is very cute to boot, even when she looks and acts crazy. All in all, I expected so much better. The preview looked really good and made this movie look a lot better than it actually is. With a great trailer and a great cast, one would expect something worth the rental or ticket. Sadly, that isn't the case here. There is nothing in this movie that will make you think or surprise you in the least. It's the same old thing that has been gussied up with a fine cast. What a huge disappointment.
Rating: 
Summary: Splendid movie, killed by critisizm...
Review: "Don't Say a Word" is a sleek, engrossing suspense thriller starring Michael Douglas as a top Manhattan psychiatrist who has everything: a beautiful wife (Famke Janssen), an adorable daughter (Skye McCole Bartusiak) and a spacious apartment in the fabulous Ansonia, a Beaux Arts landmark on the Upper West Side.
On the day before Thanksgiving, Douglas' Dr. Nathan Conrad is in an accommodating mood when pressed by a former colleague (Oliver Platt) at a psychiatric hospital (modeled on New York's famed Bellevue) to try to break through to a bedraggled, self-destructive 18-year-old (Brittany Murphy).
Without help, Platt's Dr. Jerald Sachs argues, in a couple of days, the girl could end up chained to a bed at a mental institution for the rest of her life.
Conrad doesn't know that soon he'll have to persuade Murphy's mute Elisabeth to reveal a six-digit number if he's to rescue his daughter, Jessie, kidnapped by thieves led by the brutal Patrick Coster (Sean Bean), a safecracker fresh out of prison. In the meantime, Jennifer Esposito's tenacious NYPD detective is investigating two ostensibly unrelated murders.
Director Gary Fleder and writers Anthony Peckham and Patrick Smith Kelly, in adapting Andrew Klavan's novel, tell the story with dispatch and conviction. At the heart of the matter are Conrad's grueling sessions with Elisabeth, during which Douglas draws on his star authority while Murphy reveals Elisabeth as a young woman in the grip of paralyzing fear.
The film stretches credibility in demanding Douglas to come across as a potential miracle-worker and two-fisted hero--a man of brilliance, strength and daring. With a terrific assist from Murphy's equally commanding portrayal, Douglas pulls it off.
The great-looking "Don't Say a Word," wide-ranging in locations, moves between past and present, presses forward toward the kidnappers' deadline and is heightened by Mark Isham's score. The film's intricate, ingenious structure reveals twists and turns of the human psyche. It demands as much of editors William Steinkamp, Armen Minasian and cinematographer Amir Mokri as it does of the actors.
Visual and kinetic, "Don't Say a Word" moves like a bullet train through settings actual and constructed, blended seamlessly by production designer Nelson Coates and his staff. "Don't Say a Word" is smart, stylish and, most important, satisfying. Basic fact, Douglas doesn't accept any role unless it holds a LOT of meaning...
Rating: 
Summary: Very good story
Review: It's a race against time for psychiatrist Dr. Nathan Conrad (Michael Douglas) when his daughter is kidnapped. To get her back, he must perform miracles and get a mysterious 6-digit number from the mind of a very troubled young girl (played by Brittany Murphy). He's got until 5 p.m. No great mystery. I knew exactly what was going on all along. But this is certainly a well-told story. If you enjoy a good Michael Douglas film, give this one a try. Young actress Brittany Murphy plays Elizabeth, the troubled psych. patient. She was wonderful. Skye McCole Bartusiak, who plays Jessie, the doctor's kidnapped daughter, looks like a very young Leelee Sobieski. She shows promise. Oliver Platt also co-stars as a fellow-psychiatrist. Platt can do no wrong; I always enjoy watching him. Good movie!
Rating:
Summary: Sean Bean is the saving grace
Review: I watched this movie only because it features Sean Bean, one of the most talented and most underrated actors around today. As usual, his performance was flawless, even if he was dealing with a less than perfect script. I really wish the man would be cast in a role that would break him through to the star status he deserves. The story itself was predictable, if a bit silly, but it was entertaining enough for two hours with nothing else to do. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it.
Rating:
Summary: Please, Don't say a word!
Review: Jeers to the most dullest movie of 2001, Don't say a word. This suspenseless thriller doesn't surprise you and you don't really have feelings for any of the charactors and the plot line was awful(especially the stupidest ending ever!) Don't say a word was disappointing, and pointless at the same time. Though Micheal Douglas gave a great performace(only one that tried to bring this sinker afloat),but I belive he was more in for the money.
Rating:
Summary: This was a Thriller?!?
Review: Too predictable...in a bad way. This film was not thrilling or mysterious at all. Douglas did a good job as always and Murphy was quite good and cute...as always. :) Other than that...VERY weak movie. The trailer was better than the film.
Rating:
Summary: Rate the suspense a 5, but give the plot a 1
Review: So, I drew down the middle and gave the film a rating of 3 stars. Unfortunately, the ending was already determined as soon as you sat down to watch this movie. The holes in this movie were so large, I'm surprised the plot held out for as long as it did. Oliver Platt's character shuffled through the first few scenes as if he had no point in the movie and then covering up later to make up for the missing information never provided by the director. One key component was left out completely. You have to watch the "deleted scenes" on the DVD to understand. You don't need to think to watch this movie. Just sit back, relax, and let your mind wander. Nice break from a rough day.
Rating: 
Summary: Totally Intense
Review: Very intense movie, powerful performances. I was riveted from the first few moments.
Rating:
Summary: Can't Say Enough
Review: This was an intense movie. The premise is frightening - that a professional's child would be kidnapped by a ruthless criminal not for ransom but in order to force the doctor to extract information from a patient. Both Michael Douglas and Brittany Murphy give riveting performances. Sean Bean is convincingly evil, but I thought the wife and daughter were a little too "together" for the intensity of the situation. Although the focus was on Douglas, Jennifer Esposito did a good job as the police detective just a step behind, and Oliver Platt is delightfully seedy as the psychiatrist who brings his colleague Douglas in on the case.
Rating:
Summary: Did you notice all of the special features listed???
Review: Right. Well, there are a bunch of special features on this DVD, and I am loving every minute of them. I am still waiting to finish up with Fleeder's commentary, and let me tell you I am eagerly anticipating it. I've already watched Michael Douglas', Brittany Murphy's, Famke Jannsen, and Sean Bean, and I have to say all of these actors are extremely heartwarming as they talk about theur craft. I think (no, I know) the most endearing is Brittany Murphy; she gives the most fascinating desciption of what it's like for her to take the role of any character - she actually refers to herself as those characters' vessel, in that they take over her body, use her voice and emotions, and she goes along for the ride. How lovely. The movie itself is a basic thriller, but it definitely keeps you on the edge of your seat, and it's also not predictable. My only beef is that I REALLY wish they would've had Elizabeth say "I'll never tell..." more than once! I mean, from what you hear on the previews and ads, you'd expect that she says it so much in the movie that you want to scream, but she ends up only saying it ONCE. I can't believe it, but that disappointed me. Famke Jannsen is breath-takingly beautiful and plays her part well as the mother. Sean Bean is also very convincing as the bad guy, but with a hint of humanity. I especially loved his commentary about approaching the part of the villain. He chuckles as he realizes that he's played quite a few villains. In case I haven't mentioned it yet, the movie is well-done and engaging but the special features definitely make it worth watching. They even have something called the "Cinema Master's Class" which is a bunch o' stuff about the production, storyboard, and BRITTANY MURPHY'S SCREEN TEST! Get it. Watch it. Love it.
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