Thriller fails to showcase talents of topnotch Academy winners
By SHIREESE MILLER
Entertainment Editor
Think of “Gorillas in the Mist” with a psychotic twist and you’ve got “Instinct,” starring Academy Award winners Anthony Hopkins and Cuba Gooding Jr.
The movie tells the story of notable anthropologist and primatologist, Dr. Ethan Powell (Hopkins), who now resides in the psychiatric ward of a run-down correctional institution in Florida, sentenced for murdering two Rwandian rangers.
Gooding plays Dr. Theo Caulder, a psychiatric resident, who gets an opportunity to work with the infamous Dr. Powell. Intially, Caulder wants to work with Powell for self-recognition and an oppurtunity to gather information for a bestselling book. However, as time progresses, Caulder begins to see a different side to this seemingly mad man.
Powell, having been imprisoned for quite some time, has basically given up on the world, remaining silent for the past four years.
Things change, though, when Caulder comes along. Powell recognizes the ambition in Caulder he once had when he was young. This is enough for him to open up to the young and ambitious psychiatrist.
As the two develop a relationship in the therapy sessions, Caulder no longer sees Powell as a mere patient but as a friend. He no longer wants to just treat Powell, but he also wants to help free him.
“Instinct” is not surprisingly unoriginal. I couldn’t help but get “The Silence of the Lambs” feel while watching this movie, only this time it seems like the writers crossed it with “Gorillas in the Mist”.
With a string of previously unsuccessful movies such as “Meet Joe Black”, and “The Mask of Zorro”, Hopkins has returned to a role that is expected of him.
And though his acting is quite good, as usual, the character just doesn’t add up. In the beginning of the movie, Powell is presented more as a villain than a hero. Yet, as the movie progresses, he is portrayed as a nicer, more tolerable guy. Unfortunately, the switch is made too fast and unrealistically.
In addition, Hopkins’ character seems to frequently allude to a deeper meaning in life that is more peaceful and serene than that of the civilized world which controls Cualder. But that is a complete contradiction and there is no explanation for that fact that he is an extremely violent man in the beginning of the movie. According to Powell, he used to be a “taker” like Caulder. That is, of course, until he lived with gorillas in the wild, where he found his true self. Now he’s just crazy!
Gooding’s performance is nothing short of over-dramatic acting. As I watched the movie I couldn’t help but ask myself, why did they even cast him in such a role? Gooding is good for roles such as the one for which he won his Oscar in “Jerry McGuire”. But when it comes to a role like this, where it takes some serious dramatic acting, he needs to stay out.
The movie isn’t all together bad, though. There are some enjoyable aspects, and (dare I say it ) even a couple of lovable characters in the psychiatric ward of the jail whom you could really grow to love. This movie may not be top notch when in comes to the story line or originality, but overall, it isn’t that bad.
SHIREESE’S SCALE OF MOVIE ENJOYMENT
-Gotta See It
-Pretty Good Movie
-Just OK
-Wait To See It On Video
-What Were They Thinking
-Rather Get A Root Canal
“Instinct” Scores Just OK
Runner@csubak.edu
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Wednesday, June 9, 1999
2:19 PM