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Jeff's Review of:
The Gift

Jan. 30, 2001

2000, 1 hr 50 min., Rated R for violence, language and sexuality/nudity.�Dir: Sam Raimi. Cast: Cate Blanchett (Annie Wilson), Katie Holmes (Jessica King), Keanu Reeves (Donnie Barksdale), Giovanni Ribisi (Buddy Cole), Greg Kinnear (Wayne Collins), Hilary Swank (Valerie Barksdale), Michael Jeter (Attorney Gerald Weems), J.K. Simmons (Sheriff Johnson).

For me, going to see The Gift was all about Cate. The lovely Miss Blanchett, who puts stars in my eyes every time I see her � beginning with her breakthrough, Elizabeth - is front and center in this film about a Southern small town psychic who gets embroiled in a murder. It�s a supernatural whodunit, as a dozen different folks are hinted at having a reason to off Jessica King (Katie Holmes), a spoiled rich woman with an overwhelming affinity for men.

The film really was so-so besides Cate, even thought the cast is made up of several solid actors: Greg Kinnear, Giovanni Ribisi, Hilary Swank, Michael Jeter, Holmes and whoa, even Keanu Reeves. All are capable and do fine jobs, but the film overall didn�t gel for me. Maybe it was some of the camera tricks, perhaps the pacing, even the storyline may not have been entirely interesting.

In part, it could be because director Sam Raimi has an uncanny way of making me feel very uncomfortable in films. His work in A Simple Plan had me squirming, since I don�t like to see how people act sometimes in certain situations; making dumb decisions, saying the wrong things at the wrong times, etc.

This may set a record for my shortest review of a film to date, but I don�t care. I�m on vacation, and this movie just wasn�t worth spending a lot of time writing about. I�d much rather watch Elizabeth again if I want my Cate fix.

The verdict:

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