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The Gift

The Gift

List Price: $14.99
Your Price: $11.99
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Excelently acted mystery
Review: A very well acted, who-dunnit film. Kate Blanchet is simply excelent and Keanu Reaves actualy acts in this movie. I originaly saw this movie in Prague, Czech Republic in an old movie theater and instantly from the first moment,was drawn into the movie. All of the actors in this movie were cast perfectly for the the characters and nowadays you can't say that about too many new movies. I recomend this movie to anyone who has'nt seen it and it's really worth the money.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: It Seemed Good...
Review: The Gift is a story about a small town murder, a hated psychic and ghosts. Cate Blanchett puts in a good performance from start to finish and even Keanu Reeves seemed to transform himself into a half decent actor for this one. The plot and story are interesting, not too great, but entertaining. At times it feels like you are watching every other movie about the south. Like The Client and the Apostle put together and molded into a murder mystery. But it is still thouroughly enjoyable. It is hard to see Katie Holmes, famous for playing a high school student on TV's Dawson's Creek, act as an older more mature women engaged to be married. It does not seem as though she fits in here. To me, she seems like she should still be in high school. However, the talented young actor Giovani Ribisi more then makes up for the poor casting of Katie Holmes. Ribisi plays a troubled client of Blanchett's in an outstanding performance. Now for the reason why I only gave out 1 star; it had one of the most corny, uncreative endings I can remember seeing in a long time. Then, 5 minutes later, it tops itself by adding in something ten times more ridiculous and corny. You'll know it when you see it. The horrible ending ruined the otherwise above average movie for me. I guess we can chalk this up to the writing of Billy Bob Thornton. I suggest seeing this movie, but I also suggest turning it off 10 minutes before it is over. Also, look for Mr. Lumberg from Office Space.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: STRONG PERFORMANCES... EERIE AS HELL
Review: I've been waiting for a movie like this for a long time. A movie that is ACTUALLY SCARY and not some cheesy attempt at a horror flick. That's EXACTLY what makes this movie so scary, it's NOT a horror flick. It doesn't try to scare you on purpose, the fear is REAL and it kind of creeps up on you slowly, but surely. Besides being very suspenseful, the cast could not have been better. Even Keanu plays his role down to perfection, and that's saying a lot. Overall great movie that will wrap you in so tight that you overlook any flaws. Definitely worth owning on DVD for its great eerie MAIN MENU.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Finally Keanu is a REAL MAN
Review: Gets to beat up chicks and acts like a very believable hick. The story was good and Kate Blanchet was excellent as the witch.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: A standout performance by Ribisi
Review: Apart from an outstanding performance by Giovanni Ribisi, there is nothing terribly remarkable about this paranormal whodunit. The plot is extremely predictable. If they hung a big sign on the killer that said "MURDERER", it couldn't have been more obvious than the way director Sam Raimi constructed the story around Billy Bob Thornton's screenplay.

Kate Blanchett does a good job as the fortune teller, although I wouldn't put it on a par with "Elizabeth". However, she does capture the essence of the poor southern mom right down to the accent, no small accomplishment for an Australian actor for whom her character must have seemed like a bit of a cultural enigma. Keanu Reeves seems to be trying very hard to shed his good guy image, following his performance as a psychopathic killer in the "The Watcher" with this role as an evil country boy. I would have to say that he was more convincing as a bad guy in this film than "The Watcher", but he is still not cut out for the villain roles.

Katie Holmes is another actor who uses this film to attempt to break out of her mold as the sweet teen. She tries hard to play the shrew, spicing it up with some R rated nudity and profanity, but ultimately comes across as spoiled sarcastic brat, landing not far from the teen perception she is trying to shed. This is a step backwards for her after a very solid performance in "Wonder Boys". Greg Kinnear is awful as Mr. Perfect schoolteacher, and his attempt at creating romantic tension between his character and Blanchett's is abysmally inept.

And then there is Ribisi. I have liked Giovanni in every role in which I've seen him. The kid can flat-out act. Here he outclasses the entire cast with a gut wrenching performance as Buddy, an emotionally disturbed character whose most important reason for being in the film is to add to the list suspects. Luckily, Raimi wove in enough of Buddy's story to give Ribisi an opportunity to strut his stuff, because his performance is one of the few things that elevate this film from mediocrity. Ribisi throws himself into the part, ripping his heart out and shredding it right on screen (for all you horror addicts, that was a metaphor, not a literal description). If Ribisi keeps belting out performances like this, he could well become another Dustin Hoffman, Al Pacino or Robert DeNiro, great actors who didn't fit the standard leading man mold, but made it on pure talent.

Overall, this was a middling story with average acting, mundane direction and a standout performance by an up and coming actor in a supporting role. I rated it a 5/10. Worth seeing for Giovanni.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A Bit Slow But Good...
Review: It is very difficult to write a good thriller that will hold your interest as some of the great classics like flatliners and jacobs ladder. The gift is a bit on the slow side but it holds your interest throughout the movie. It has a good plot and a great cast. It is an enjoyable movie to watch. I personally bought a copy of this however what i have noted is that it seems to always be out in my video store. I believe this one to be the sleeper thriller that poeple will discover through dvd and "yuck" vhs. In short if it were not for being a bit slow this would have gotten 5 stars eazy!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A scary movie with a lot of suspense
Review: Tons of scary movie dont really have mystery or suspense and this movie did, so I was really pleased with that. I say this is a must see movie.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Predictable but Very Viewable
Review: Have watched this movie twice since purchasing it and am very proud of our Cate Blanchett. What an established actress she has become. If u cannot guess who the villian is in this movie before half time I will be very surprised.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I LIKE THIS STYLE OF MOVIES
Review: I really LIKE THIS STYLE OF MOVIES { SIXTH SENSE style } This is one of the best-acted films I've seen in a while It kept you interested and Kate has great dramatic presence

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: 5 stars for the movie - 1 star for the Rex Reed [hopeful]!
Review: I really enjoyed this movie. No, not because of Katie Holmes gracing us with what my 14-year-old son will be thrilled by while I'm a way at work.

Though that was kind of nice.

Sure we've seen these characters before in countless movies, as well as the plot. But hey, it isn’t Shakespeare or Bergman! What were you expecting?

This movie is a nice little sleeper that crept in the theaters and was buried by the over-hyped blockbusters. It's a simple, little movie that deserves some attention by those who love a simple thrill on a Saturday night in front of the television. Not by pretentious Pauline Kael-Rex Reed types who spend too much time in NYU film school and spend their boring, elitist lives sipping espresso while mindlessly discussing the meaning of Bergman’s “The Seventh Seal.”

Which by the way, is a great movie.


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