The concept is excellent. The kinda thing I wish that I could say I came up with. It stars Robin Williams (a guy I think is a GOOD actor, not a GREAT actor... I still say he shouldn'ta gotten the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for "Good Will Hunting," it shoulda gone to Burt Reynolds for "Boogie Nights"), Cuba Gooding, Jr., Annabella Sciorra, and Max Von Sydow.
The movie is based on the book by Richard Matheson (he wrote the novel and screenplay for "Somewhere in Time"), and was adapted by the very talented Ron Bass (writer of "The Joy Luck Club," "When a Man Loves a Woman," "Rain Man," and "My Best Friends Wedding"). The script was good, but may have been too demanding to turn into a movie. Artfully directed by Vincent Ward (who directed "Map of the Human Heart," which I never saw), it's great visually, and many of the images will forever be burned in my brain, but something was missing.
As for the performances, Robin Williams was good, Cuba Gooding, Jr. was better, and Annabella Sciorra was amazing. Max Von Sydow took on a role that he could breeze right through, and he did, which was fine. The one who decided to cast him should get the credit there. Despite the big names, the one person I'll never forget about when I think of this movie is Jessica Brooks. She's the young girl who plays the daughter in the movie. She has an incredible way of showing subtle emotion that hits you like a ton of bricks. If she doesn't screw her life up, she can be the next Natalie Portman.
I wish that
I could tell you the concept of this movie, because it's great. Still, I
gotta stick to my guns, and reveal as little about the movie as possible.
I have a feeling that if I were to see the movie a second time, I would
be more willing to accept it as a movie, but I don't know. I'll tell you
what, though: I'm dying to read the book.