Friday, June 4, 1999 | 9:48 a.m.
Instinct Grades: Jeff, D; Dave, D-.Starring:Anthony Hopkins, Cuba Gooding Jr., Donald Sutherland, Maura Tierney and John Ashton.
Directed by: Jon Turteltaub.
Screenplay by: Gerald DiPego.
Rated: R for violence, brief nudity, adult language and themes.
Running time: 120 minutes.
Playing at: Regal Cinemas Boulder Station, Regal Cinemas Village Square, UA Green Valley, UA Showcase mall, Las Vegas Drive-In, Cinedome 12 Henderson, Rancho Santa Fe 16, Gold Coast Twin.
Synopsis: Within the brilliant mind of anthropologist Ethan Powell (Anthony Hopkins) lies an ominous secret that has him estranged from his family and imprisoned for his violent behavior. This secret was derived from years of researching mountain gorillas -- to the point where he was living among them in the wild, and accepted as one of their own. Now it is up to psychiatrist Theo Caulder (Cuba Gooding Jr.) to encounter a series of perplexing mysteries, questions with chilling answers and shocking psychological truths.
Dave: Folks, whatever you do, please do not be led like sheep into the theater this weekend (or any day of the week for that matter) by the exciting trailer you may have seen for "Instinct." Nor by its headlining star power in Anthony Hopkins and Cuba Gooding Jr., two fine actors who both have Academy Awards in their trophy cases. This psychological drama may sound thrilling, what with Hopkins as the crazed, convicted subject and Gooding Jr. as the ambitious psychiatrist, but I believe you'd have more thrills watching the popcorn pop out in the theater lobby.
Jeff: The underlying theme of "Instinct" is a hard-forced concept of man vs. nature and the very conflict that man endures with civilization -- moving further into the wild. "We are one" is the message -- one that is lost in the hokey dialogue by screenwriter Gerald DiPego.
The film focuses on the relationship between Powell and Caulder, with Caulder trying to get Powell to speak for the first time in many years. Powell does (rather quickly) and most of the mystery quickly evaporates. Caulder's obsession with cracking this case, purely for career reasons, establishes his character as a self-centered know-it-all, but sometime during his sessions with Powell, his outlook on his life and career is turned around. I never felt, nor witnessed that moment. It's laughable. Between Hopkins, sporting his Sean Connery "The Rock" look, and Gooding Jr's. hyper performance, you couldn't help but giggle during the "journey" they both embarked on. Powell was nutty as a fruitcake, losing his family and career after going ape.
Dave: Let's not forget to mention, Jeff, the film's weak, unnecessary attempts to appeal to our emotional side with a muddled message for animal rights in this very contrived and poorly developed story.
It comes as a surprise that director Turteltaub, whose list of credits include "Phenomenon" and "Cool Runnings," would produce such drivel, and underplay co-stars Donald Sutherland and "NewsRadio's" Maura Tierney. Furthermore, Stan Winston Studio contributes by creating the realistic gorillas that Powell lives among, yet they are wasted in sporadic flashbacks that Powell painfully reminisces about to Caulder. For all we know, Stan pulled those monkey outfits left behind after "Congo" out of his studio's closet. Even if you don't believe us, our own "Instincts" tell us you will!
Jeff: We are supposed to feel at one with nature during Powell's time with the apes, but logic keeps creeping into the setting. Making contact with this rare group of apes was more than he could have dreamed, and it was a turning point in his career. From a research point of view, it's your desire to be accepted among these animals. But to stay among them for weeks at a time, living like them? No camp or supplies, just lounging amid the banana leafs? It was a moment intended as serious that was unintentionally comical. Just picture Academy Award-winner Hopkins wandering around the jungle with the apes from "Congo" and you can't take this picture seriously. It's not his fault -- it's the subject matter suggested by the novel "Ishmael" by Daniel Quinn.
The film never takes the opportunity to explore the other patient/prisoners to whom we are introduced. Caulder is told that he has to spend time on other prisoners' cases in order to get at Powell. Picture "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" meets "Gorillas In The Mist" -- without the insight, the dignity or the subtle humor.
Movie BuzzFiennes may climb Everest: Only three weeks after the body of George Mallory was found on Mount Everest, Ralph Fiennes ("Schindler's List," "The English Patient") is reportedly close to signing with Britain's United Productions to portray the legendary mountain climber in a forthcoming movie. Mallory died attempting to climb Everest 75 years ago. Fiennes would seem a natural choice for the role: He is a second cousin of another famous explorer, Sir Ranulph Fiennes.
Another stab at "Blade": Screenwriter David Goyer is saying that the sequel to the popular Wesley Snipes vampire flick, "Blade," may start production as early as the fall. Speaking to the Detroit News Comic Book Continuum, Goyer revealed the current status of the sequel saying, "We are talking to a number of directors. If all goes well, we should have one locked in by the end of the month. In all likelihood, the film will probably shoot in October or January with preproduction starting in the next few months."
Universal Changes: After a poor showing at the box office last year, Universal Pictures has had a resurgence in 1999 thanks to the success of "The Mummy" and "Notting Hill." Now the studio is moving up the rest of its summer releases. The teen comedy "American Pie" will keep its July 9 date, but the superhero spoof "Mystery Men" is hurrying to get its special effects finished so the film can open on July 30, a week earlier than scheduled. Just a week after the Steve Martin comedy "Bowfinger" was delayed from July 23 to Aug. 27, the studio has pushed the date back up to Aug. 13.
Name That FlickWe had some good guesses for our Memorial Day movie quote: "Sometimes I wonder whose side God's on." Callers guessed movies ranging from "The Deer Hunter" to "Saving Private Ryan," but it was Karl Anderl who correctly guessed that it was spoken by John Wayne as Col. Benjamin Vadervoot in the D-Day epic film, "The Longest Day." Way to go, Karl. Over the top!
For this week, who said this and in what film: "They was giving me 10,000 watts a day, you know, and I'm hot to trot. Next woman takes me on's going to light up like a pinball machine, and pay off in silver dollars." If you think you know, call the Movie Guys' hotline at 225-9026, or log onto our website at themovieguys.com. Be sure to spell your name and leave a daytime phone number and if you're the first to answer correctly, we will print your name right here in our column for the entire Las Vegas Valley to read.
Don't forget to pick up this week's issue of the Las Vegas Weekly to check out our interview with actress Julia Roberts, speaking about her new film, "Notting Hill." See you next week!
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