Final Analysis

Written by: Wesley Strick Starring: Richard Gere, Kim Basinger, Uma Thurman

Slick, soulless filmmaking, not half as gripping as it thinks it is. The filmmakers plot (plod?) it out like a military campaign, with about as much heart. You can practically hear the gears clicking underneath. Yet it's all surface--shiny, bright, and hard--and it has no substance to grab onto. This picture is like a windup toy that's set in motion and runs through its mechanical routine. All the little twists and setpieces are planned to within an inch of their lives. We don't even get a good imitation of the rush and spontaneity of real life. The acting is uninspired, and ultimately we really don't care much about these characters. And who is this Joanou guy anyway? King of the Closeup? Hey Phil, ever hear of a Master Shot? Final note: The best character by far, and the most riveting performance, is Eric Roberts as a ruthless gangster. He really gets some juice going, so naturally they limit his time onscreen and get him killed off about a third of the way through. Way to go. (2/7/92)