Any film that actually contains a believable performance by Keanu Reeves as a vicious redneck is worth a look for curiosity value alone. Fortunately, "The Gift" offers even more persuasive reasons to accept it.
"The Gift" presents a dark, fluid, character-driven narrative with more plot twists and scares than a dozen recent movies combined. Stylistically and artistically, the film is a triumph for director Sam Raimi.
Annie Wilson (brilliantly played by Cate Blanchett) is a widowed clairvoyant who supports three children with social security and, more intriguingly, by giving psychic readings. Her titular gift allows her not only to read tarot cards but also to see brief flashes of the future at random and in dreams. The police, though skeptical, decide to solicit her help in a case concerning a recent disappearance with suspicion of foul play.
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The victim, Jessica King (Katie Holmes), is fiancee to local school principal Wayne Collins (Greg Kinnear). To complicate matters, the couple has had some relationship problems, and Wayne and Annie seem to share a mild attraction to each other.
The resident alcoholic/abusive husband, Donnie Barksdale (Reeves), becomes entangled in the case and is eventually brought to trial, despite the sketchy evidence that implicates him. He, along with Annie's gift, is put on trial, with dire legal and personal consequences awaiting both characters.
Although the film contains supernatural elements, to call "The Gift" a horror film would not be accurate. Though flawed, "The Gift" is a surprisingly deep character study of a hideous crime in a small town.
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The mystery surrounding the identity of the killer is reasonably absorbing, but the surprise ending may leave some viewers feeling cheated. In the film's defense, "The Gift" possesses the only twist ending in recent years that is hard to see coming from a mile away. It completely catches the viewer by surprise.
Likewise powerful are scenes as simple as a person walking into a house or through a forest. With assistance from excellent cinematography (by Jamie Anderson) and smooth editing (courtesy of Arthur Coburn and Bob Murawski), these small sequences take on an elevated quality that successfully plays the viewer like an instrument. Annie's hallucinogenic visions, which she receives when she least expects them, are a dazzling, terrifying sight to behold. The effects and trick angles that convey these scenes are subtle, yet highly effective. Most important, they take the viewers into the mind of Annie and allow them to understand what it's like to have visions of the future.
Enough good things cannot be said about Blanchett's performance. She perfectly captures the combination of strong will, vulnerability and exasperation one would expect from an overwhelmed single mother in a small town. Giovanni Ribisi is also excellent in a small but important role as her mentally handicapped friend.
As previously stated, Reeves actually is good in this movie. Notorious for being one of the worst successful actors in America (see "Point Break" and "Dracula" for rock-solid evidence), his work here is powerful enough to make believers out of even the most skeptical. On another note: Don't blink, or you'll miss composer Danny Elfman (in his first non-Oingo Boingo-related on-screen acting role) in a dark dream sequence in the middle of a forest.
"The Gift" was written by Tom Epperson and Billy Bob Thornton and is Thornton's best work since 1996's "Sling Blade," his career breakthrough. What makes "The Gift" such a treat is its ability to steer clear of formulaic thriller territory.
Raimi is the main attraction here, however. Raimi has often swayed between mediocrity and genius on his last few films, but this one is definitely on the up swing of the curve. His vibrant visual style and uncanny ability to build tension and suspense give the film a major boost.
Raimi's film is heads and tails above recent slasher films like "The Cell". A great deal of psychological depth and character development is provided, in addition to its powerful visuals and jolting scares. The movie succeeds in all areas, with only some minor faults in its plot development. Open "The Gift" immediately.
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