The Gift Reviews

Director Sam Raimi continued his move from the wild cartoony excesses of The Evil Dead and its sequels with this southern supernatural thriller. Co-scripted by Billy Bob Thornton, the eerie tale has widow Cate Blanchett helping the police find a missing woman through her gift of ESP. Her insights lead to the arrest of adulterous wife-batterer Keanu Reeves, but is he really the culprit? The strong cast, which also includes Hilary Swank, Greg Kinnear and Giovanni Ribisi, rises above the rather predictable plotting and hackneyed final reel, and there are some genuinely scary moments along the way. Although essentially by-the-numbers stuff, the lack of emphasis on digital effects is refreshing, and Reeves's ferocious turn is a real eye-opener.

Engaging hokum in the Deep Southern Gothic style, given a modicum of credibility by the strength of Cate Blanchett's performance; despite her gift for foresight, though, most of the audience will anticipate the narrative twists long before she does.

"...[Ms. Blanchett's] spectral intensity dominates THE GIFT....Mr. Reeves [gives] his best bad-guy performance to date....Mr. Raimi has not forgotten the tricks of his gory erstwhile trade..."

Director Sam Raimi continued his move from the wild cartoony excesses of The Evil Dead and its sequels with this southern supernatural thriller. Co-scripted by Billy Bob Thornton, the eerie tale has widow Cate Blanchett helping the police find a missing woman through her gift of ESP. Her insights lead to the arrest of adulterous wife-batterer Keanu Reeves, but is he really the culprit? The strong cast, which also includes Hilary Swank, Greg Kinnear and Giovanni Ribisi, rises above the rather predictable plotting and hackneyed final reel, and there are some genuinely scary moments along the way. Although essentially by-the-numbers stuff, the lack of emphasis on digital effects is refreshing, and Reeves's ferocious turn is a real eye-opener.

Engaging hokum in the Deep Southern Gothic style, given a modicum of credibility by the strength of Cate Blanchett's performance; despite her gift for foresight, though, most of the audience will anticipate the narrative twists long before she does.

"...[Ms. Blanchett's] spectral intensity dominates THE GIFT....Mr. Reeves [gives] his best bad-guy performance to date....Mr. Raimi has not forgotten the tricks of his gory erstwhile trade..."

"...Reeves brings off a dashing piece of physical sleight-of-hand....[The] film is elegant, solidly played and frequently gripping..."

...[Like A SIMPLE PLAN, director Sam Raimi's film is] an absorbing portrayal of a serious crime committed in a small town...