Released: 8/19/05

Viewed: 7:15 pm 8/20/05

Starring: Rachel McAdams, Cillian Murphy, Brian Cox

Directed by: Wes Craven

2005 has not been a good year for Wes Craven First his hip werewolf thriller Cursed arrived and did nothing. Now the much more anticipated Red Eye receives some of the best buzz of his long and successful career, but ultimately fails to take off. I'm trying to figure out if it's a personal problem. It's possible that it just didn't live up to the hype, or my own expectations. But should I give acclaim to a sub par thriller? Sure it's the best thriller of 2005, but what's its competition? Let's start with the good. For the first time Cravens nature to cast the it actors of the time paid off. Because he got two of the better actors working in Hollywood right now. Thank god talent is hip. Rachel McAdams and Cillian Murphy have done, pretty much only top notch movies. McAdams is credited in The Hot Chick, but with every movie she does she gets better, and the material gets better, so there's no problem there.

Both are very natural on screen. The opening half hour of set up, before they even get on the plane is the most entertaining moment of the film. McAdams is so convincing and entertaining as a hotel coordinator that I would be surprised if we didn't see a new NBC hour long drama called "The Hotel" (or some crap) in the fall 2006 season.

The banter between Murphy and MacAdems is brilliant, and you look forward for the inevitable clash of the strong willed heroine, and the dangerously smooth and calm mastermind.

When they get on the plane it starts out great. When the villain reveals himself it has the shock and impact you would hope it would. Murphy is creepy, but charming and in control. At some point he looses all of that completely. The heroine fights back naturally, and he catches her at every turn. But he does so with none of the smooth creepy composure that had been established. He's almost freaking out as much as she was. The Rippner character would have been much more convincing if he thwarted her attempts with a quiet confidence instead of a frantic shuffle.

Craven does nothing on the plane. There are obvious things like fear of flying or claustrophobia that are touched on but never really taken advantage of. That's fine. Part of me says ? well, that's too obvious. Too clich?. It's better to come up with new interesting ideas to keep the audience guessing.

But nothing. A book, a bathroom, a headbutt. BOREING. I watched as an hour of screen time went by and a whole lot of nothing went on. IT was really just more set up for how the movie would wrap up. Then the plane lands and things finally get going. From the second the plane touches down you feel the tension and urgency you'd been waiting for. And it does last for the remaining 20 minutes. But for all of that, all the set up, all the character development? is it wrong that I was more afraid of McAdams then I was of Murphy? There is a showdown where they face off in a sorts (I'm trying to bee vague for spoilers sake). And the ENTIRE time I was more worried about what she was going to do to him then what he was going to do to her. That's messed up! She ways 96 pounds soaking wet and she was set to kick his ass.

It ends well, if not predictably. And as disappointed I am with the over all product there are strong moments of acting and filmmaking. I'm just bitter as hell over the opportunities that went to waste here. "A person trapped on a plane with no way out." Thousands of possibilities. Not one interesting one used.

4 out of 10 Some strong performances and genuinely entertaining ideas, but not nearly the caliber thriller that it's being made out to be.

DVD worthy?: Unfortunately no. While there are moments worth rewatching, owning Red Eye on DVD would just be a reminder of what could have been.

If you liked this movie check out : Rear Window

The ultimate thriller where our hero is trapped in an unlikely situation that is out of his control. Rear Window is perfect and if it came out today I'd give it a 10. Rent it and watch as Hitchcock and crew scare the balls out of you. I still think about that flashbulb scene.

Just for the record this is Hitchcock's Rear Window, not the one starring Christopher Reeves. A good reader warned me there might be some confusion, and I don't want to be responsible for anyone watching that.

Trailer Hitch: Stay

I walked in as this trailer was rolling (long lines grrrr?) but I was sucked in right away. I know so little about it but the trailer was as good as the cast. Ewam MccGregor, Naomi Watts, Ryan Gosling. Director Foster (Finding Neverland, Monsters Ball) obviously knows what he's doing. It'll be interesting to see him tackle this sci-fi-esque thriller.

Today's vote incentive will stay in your mind and keep you awake shivering and cold. Prepare yourself to view fear in its purest form! Thanks to everyone whose been voting. I'm thrilled with how well it's been going, and for the response I'm getting to the strips. It's all extremely encouraging and keeps me hopeful to the future of JLCM. Special thanks to Theater hopper who have been supporting the new vote incentives in a big way. You're a good man, Brazelton.