A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

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Title: The Invasion

Date Viewed: 8/25/07

Details:

Nicole Kidman

Daniel Craig

Jeremy Northam

Veronica Cartwright

Josef Sommer

Directed by: Oliver Hirschbiegel & (uncredited) James McTeigue

Score: 1/2

The Review: This is at least the second remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers -- originally a classic 1956 sci-fi thriller reeking of the McCarthy era, more recently (1978) with Spock. This time around, the plot elements have been substantially transformed -- the iconic pods have disappeared, only to be replaced by more subtle microbial invaders and bad skin. Personally, I liked the pods.

The tone is the same as before -- a frenzied mood of escape that must be tightly controlled and moderated so it is not detected by those already converted, overlaying a clear horror of infection and transformation -- but this time it's augmented by the frenetic concern of a mother (Kidman) for a misplaced, and possibly immune, child. But there are few remnants of the original McCarthy paranoia of otherness. Now, it's just the straightforward (unsurprising & unexceptional) fear of contagion, probably not unlike that which spread in advance of the Black Death. Much of the spirit of the originals has been muted, making the result much less interesting.

Craig is stoic. Kidman is alternately frantic and icy, concerned and masked. Her role as psychologist gives her ample opportunity to wear the masque of non-response.

(23-Sep-07)

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