Shining Through

Starring: Michael Douglas, Melanie Griffith, and a cast of thousands

Let's see. How can I put this? Does the phrase "extremely silly" mean anything to you? This is a movie that wishes it were as good as its trailer. Not only was the trailer more exciting, more involving, and better paced than the film, it didn't have to labor under the smothering influence of the leaden voiceover narration and the idiotic frame structure of the picture itself. The film is way too long and moves at a speed that can be most charitably described as funereal. Griffith is OK, though I can never take her seriously because of that squeaky voice. Douglas is stolid and just a bit boring. To say that the picture telegraphs things would be a vast understatement. The most admirable thing here is the production design: tremendous, atmospheric period sets, very convincing. And all those extras... this is a BIG picture, and bespeaks money spent by the boatload. Yup, Seltzer was trying to achieve that dew-eyed, fresh-faced, gee-whiz wonderful feel of the innocent forties. Unfortunately, he succeeded. (2/6/92)