The Gift (DVD)
Directed by: Sam Raimi
Written by: Billy Bob Thornton, Tom Epperson
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Keanu Reeves, Katie Holmes, Greg Kinnear, Giovanni Ribisi, Hilary Swank

It’s been a few years now since Sam Raimi directed his first feature film. It was a low budget, independent horror film that you just might have heard of called Evil Dead, the first in a trilogy (using the term “trilogy” rather loosely) that went on to develop an absolutely fanatical cult following.

Since then, Raimi has broken out of the cult filmmaker niche, and has gone on to direct several mainstream Hollywood titles. Many of his hardcore fans might accuse him of selling out, but Raimi’s transition into more accessible cinema has been a rather respectable one, bringing with it such often overlooked films as Darkman and A Simple Plan.

Now Raimi gives us The Gift, and the title, in my mind, couldn’t be more fitting as it really is a gift to fans of Raimi’s previous work. It may be a big budget Hollywood movie, but it is also a return to Raimi’s supernatural roots. The fact that it has an all-star cast doesn’t hurt either.

The story was written by Tom Epperson and Billy Bob Thornton, who had worked with Raimi on A Simple Plan, and apparently realized that the script was well-suited to Raimi’s talents and experience. Their story is not the strongest aspect of the film though, in fact, it is probably one of the weakest.

The “gift” in the film’s title actually refers to the main character’s ability to foresee the future. Right off the bat, the psychic element lumps this movie in with countless other films that have trodden on similar ground, and leads one to believe that it will be dull, generic and not all that interesting.

Reading the blurb on the back of this movie gives a vague plot description that sounds less than inspiring:”Widow and mother of three, Annie Wilson (Blanchett), makes her living by foretelling others’ futures… through her own has become cloudier than ever she can see. Threatened by a client’s violently jealous husband (Reeves) and plagued by visions of a missing towns-girl (Holmes), Annie is unwittingly pulled into a thicket of lies and deception in which her extraordinary gift could be used against her… and get her killed.” Tell me, how many times have you heard something like that before?

But don’t be put off by it. If you give The Gift a chance, I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

Despite the potentially cliched plot, the film is brought to life by some outstanding performances. Cate Blanchett is focused and quite believable as Annie Wilson, the town psychic who makes a humble living with her 3 children by reading people’s futures. She anchors the entire film, which is key, because if she hadn’t been credible, the film would likely have fallen apart around her. Greg Kinnear also puts in a quiet but solid performance as the local school principal whose fiancee has gone missing, and even Keanu finds his mark as a dirtbag alcholic who abuses his wife. (Go figure.) The meshback look kinda suits him, don’t you think?

The actor who really steals the show, though, is Giovanni Ribisi. Some people may know him from the TV show Friends, but I remember him best from a 3rd season X-Files episode entitled “D.P.O.”. His character in that episode is rather similar to his role in The Gift, where he plays a simple-minded mechanic who, although emotionally unstable, has a big heart underneath it all. In both cases he brings an overwhelming amount of energy to the screen. Some people might feel that he overdoes it, but personally I think his interaction with Blanchett’s character is the most touching aspect of the movie.

Raimi’s direction makes The Gift both eerie and gripping, keeping you on edge throughout. Set in the Southern U.S. swamplands, the film’s scenery is perfectly creepy and provides for some amazing visuals. The minimalistic use of sound also enhances the atmosphere of the film.

The Gift is not really a horror movie, but rather more of a supernatural whodunit.Although I did denounce the movie’s plot earlier, I still have to admit that it had enough twists to keep me guessing right until the end. I’m sure that some people may be able to foresee the film’s conclusion from early on, but I was too involved with the characters to be looking ahead to the inevitable denouement.

The DVD is extremely scarce on special features, which was a bit of a disappointment. There is a theatrical trailer (whoopee), a video from Neko Case & Her Boyfriends, and a behind the scenes featurette, which just has the typical kiss-ass interviews with cast and crew members. However, it is still very worthwhile to see this movie on DVD if only to get the full effect of the beautiful cinematography. The menu screen has a really nice design too.

I was very impressed with The Gift. It exceeded my expectations, and proved once again that Sam Raimi is a very skilled and very reliable director. It also proves that a somewhat run-of-the-mill story can be transformed into an intense film with the right people up on the screen.

Next on Raimi’s schedule is the much anticipated Spiderman movie. I may not have “the gift”, but I do have a gut feeling that if he can deliver on that film, he may finally get some of the mainstream respect he deserves. — Sean