♥♥
 |
| An eerie contour makes up this poster for Paul Verhoeven's Hollow Man |
Dr. Sebastian Caine is a molecular biologist of an unusually self-assured breed (and an uncontrolled libido), who with a new piece of technology is now able to make himself invisible - and vent his rage!
Hollow Man is written by Andrew W. Marlone (End of Days (1999)), with Gary Scott Thompson (Man of War (2021)) contributing story elements, inspired by H.G. Wells' (When the Sleeper Wakes (1899)) 1897 novel The Invisible Man, and directed by Dutch master filmmaker Paul Verhoeven (Diary of a Hooker/Wat zien ik (1971)). It is his 13th feature.
The plot of the movie is incredibly simple, unrefined, predictable, and yet nonsensical. Because what exactly is it that makes Kevin Bacon's (Trapped (2002)) scientist protagonist a bloodthirsty monster, when he becomes invisible?
Elisabeth Shue (Deconstructing Harry (1997)) and Josh Brolin (No Country for Old Men (2007)) attempt their best but are essentially earth-bound in this sub-par Verhoeven effort. The special effects are most impressive, - the film, not so much.
Related posts:
Paul Verhoeven: Top 10: Best cop movies reviewed by Film Excess to date
Basic Instinct (1992) or, Irresistable Desire!
Top 10: Best erotic movies reviewed by Film Excess to date
The Fourth Man/De Vierde Man (1983) - Verhoeven's amazing Dutch sex thriller nightmare
Watch a 2-minute clip from the film here
Cost: 95 mil. $
Box office: 190.2 mil. $
= Flop (returned 2.00 times its cost)
[Hollow Man premiered 2 August (Los Angeles) and runs 112 minutes. Reportedly 50 mil. $ of the budget was used on VFX. Shooting took place from April - June 1999 and from August 1999 - February 2000 in Washington D.C. and Los Angeles. The film opened #1 to a 26.4 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it spent one more weekend at #1 and then left the top 5, grossing 73.2 mil. $ (38.5 % of the total gross). The film was nominated for the Best Effects Oscar, lost to Gladiator. Roger Ebert gave the film a 2/4 star review, equal in rating to this one. Verhoeven said in a 2013 interview that he was 'depressed' after the film's release; that he thought that '20 directors in Hollywood could have done that' and that 'it really is not me anymore'. Verhoeven returned with Le Court des Grands (2006, video documentary), Sarah Brightman: I Lost My Hear to a Starship Trooper (2006, music video) and theatrically with Black Book (2006). Bacon returned in Novocaine (2001); Shue in Amy & Isabelle (2001, TV movie) and theatrically in Tuck Everlasting (2002). Hollow Man is rotten at 26 % with a 4.30/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]
What do you think of Hollow Man?
No comments:
Post a Comment