Don't miss Academy Award(R)-winners Anthony Hopkins (Best Actor, THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, THE INNOCENT) and Cuba Gooding, Jr. (Best Supporting Actor, JERRY MAGUIRE, PEARL HARBOR) in this highly provocative psychological t... more »hriller from the hit-making director of PHENOMENON and WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING! In a prison for the criminally insane, deranged anthropologist Ethan Powell (Hopkins) is set to be examined by a bright young psychiatrist, Theo Caulder (Gooding). Driven by ambition and a hunger for the truth, Caulder will eventually risk everything -- even put his very life on the line -- in a harrowing attempt to understand the bizarre actions of this madman! Also starring Donald Sutherland (A TIME TO KILL, DISCLOSURE) and Maura Tierney (FORCES OF NATURE, LIAR LIAR) in a first-rate cast -- Powell and Caulder's adventure of the mind is a riveting journey of discovery ... no matter what the cost!« less
This was a pretty good movie, but with a slow start. Anthony Hopkins gives a good performance to a surprising character.
1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Darlene L. (Earthnut) from YUKON, OK Reviewed on 4/17/2011...
Excellent movie. I recommend it highly.
1 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.
Movie Reviews
Awe inspiring ...
Mary Chrapliwy | NJ, USA | 05/21/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I was prepared to not like this movie. There were so many negative and lukewarm reviews. I'm glad I watched it in spite of those reviews.
This is a deeply moving story about an anthropologist who leaves everything behind and lives with a group of gorillas - we get glimpses of that life later in movie. The beginning of the movie is a portrait of him as a madman, who doesn't speak, and has killed two park rangers. He is transported to the U.S. and awaits trial in a prison for the criminally insane. Cuba Gooding Jr. is a psychiatrist who is trying to get him to come out of his shell and speak. Cuba Gooding Jr's performance is the stand out in this awe inspring movie.
For fear of giving too much away, I won't say much more. I will say, however, that this movie is not so much about the crime itself. It is more about the transforming nature of love and respect and, ultimately, the meaning of freedom.
Unlike some other reviewers, I would heartily recommend this film. It is a movie that makes you think. It is a movie that will be on your mind for days and days. It just may transform the way you think.
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This movie is about control.
Jeremy James | Kentucky USA | 08/14/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Everyone thinks this movie is about Anthony Hopkins living out some demented "Gorillas in the Mist" nightmare. That is simply the catalyst for teaching us something about how we relate to the world around us. Everything about this movie is about control, the desire to control those who are not like us, the desire of the guards to control the population, the desire of Gooding's character to contol Hopkins. But, what Hopkins has to teach us is that we are not in control, but we simply hold onto our illusions of control. When our illusions are threatened we become angry and frightened because we are afraid of the reality. Ever wonder why we are so disturbed about a home invasion? Is it because someone came in, or because we had built up an illusion that we were safe, and now that illusion is gone? In this movie look past the gorillas and the corny guards and the predictable plot, look deeper into what the characters reveal about ourselves. Truly, then this is a very frightening movie."
Incredible Performances
Amateur Saboteur | Unimportant | 01/30/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Hopkins and Gooding give what is quite possibly the most impressive performance, in my opinion, of the year. If you have anything against either actor, however, I don't reccommend the movie, as 90% of the film centers solely on those two actors. On the other hand, if you're an avid fan of the two (as I am), this is a definite must to add to the collection."
The performances of Hopkins and Gooding are exceptional.
Amateur Saboteur | 11/01/1999
(4 out of 5 stars)
"It's hard to explain the refreshingly intelligent and moving and thoughtful script of this film. Issues such as what is really civilized behavior, the pack as family mentality, and humanity vs. inhumanity are explored with depth but never with a heavy hand. The performances of Hopkins and Gooding are exceptional. Gooding did agreat job with the other film I'd seen him in, JERRY MAGUIRE but the depths of emotion and the layered aspects of his performance in Instinct are incredible. And Anthony Hopkins is as always very very good!Where it falls a little, I think, is in the direction. Jon Turteltaub is a competent director who has done films I've enjoyed, such as WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING and PHENOMENON. But in this case, with everything it had going for it, Turteltaub didn't hold the strings tight.But INSTINCT is a good film. Highly recommended!"
Instinct
nickclark | 12/05/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Wow! Somewhere I heard this movie wasn't very good, but I loved it. It was powerful and intriguing, and had some of the best acting I've seen in Cuba Gooding, Jr. I defintely recommend seeing this."