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The Watcher
2000
A stylish thriller that recalls David Fincher's SEVEN, THE WATCHER is set in the urban landscape of modern Chicago. The story follows Los Angeles transplant Joel Campbell (James Spader), an ex-police detective who has relocated to Chicago in order to escape his past. It appears that a dangerous serial killer, David Allen .. Read more
| Starring | James Spader, Marisa Tomei, Keanu Reeves, Chris Ellis |
|---|---|
| Director | Joe Charbanic |
| Genres | Thriller |
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The Watcher
A stylish thriller that recalls David Fincher's SEVEN, THE WATCHER is set in the urban landscape of modern Chicago. The story follows Los Angeles transplant Joel Campbell (James Spader), an ex-police detective who has relocated to Chicago in order to escape his past. It appears that a dangerous serial killer, David Allen Griffin (Keanu Reeves), has formed a special emotional attachment to Campbell, luring him to Chicago in order to continue their deadly game of cat-and-mouse. Each game commences when Griffin sends Campbell a picture of a young girl, giving Campbell 24 hours to track her down before she's murdered. After three tragic failures, the stakes are upped when Griffin kidnaps Campbell's beautiful psychiatrist, Polly (Marisa Tomei), mimicking an earlier event that drove Campbell to Chicago in the first place.
THE WATCHER is a commentary on modern society's effect on people: making them crudely unable to notice the peripheral people in their daily lives. First-time director Joe Charbanic shoots his film like a music video, using elliptical editing, slow motion, and a postindustrial soundtrack that greatly reflects the Chicago music scene. As the tortured detective, Spader possesses an internal fire that gradually builds in intensity as the film progresses.
| Starring | James Spader, Marisa Tomei, Keanu Reeves, Chris Ellis, Ernie Hudson, Robert Cicchini, Jennifer McShane |
|---|---|
| Director | Joe Charbanic |
| Studio | UNIVERSAL PICTURES UK |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 33 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Thriller |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Hearing-impaired | English |
| Subtitles | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 18 Feb 2002 Production year: 2000 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (4)
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Keanu Reeves's eclectic choice of roles finds him straying into Anthony Hopkins territory with his portrayal of an FBI-taunting serial killer. On the evidence of this dismal thriller, Hopkins doesn't have much to worry about. Reeves is the strangler who's relocated to Chicago to continue his game of psychological warfare with James Spader's troubled agent. There are a few creepy sequences, but pop video-maker and first-time director Joe Charbanic never manages to sustain a credible air of menace. Spader is his usual accomplished self, while Marisa Tomei does her best with a rather unconvincing role as Spader's therapist. But the big problem here is Reeves, in a role that was supposedly expanded from a cameo. He's meant to be diabolic but instead comes across as just plain smug.
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Spader and Tomei, as the haunted ex-cop and his lonely shrink, add a human dimension to a derivative scenario. Based on... read more on Time Out
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Most helpful member's review
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7 out of 8 people found this review helpful
In my humble opinion Keanu Reeves plays the villian better than he does the hero. There is something about his acting that makes you think that he could cross the line into madness very easily, whatever the role he is playing, so this film suits his acting style to a tee, as he plays a murderous nutter taunting the investigating policeman (James Spader, in one of his better roles) with his crimes. And he plays this sadistic villian very well indeed.
This is a stylish film that keeps you watching to the bitter end, without sudden urges to go and make a pot of tea. Good plot, good acting, and a nice bit of tension building. I would say that it is well worth the effort of renting. -
Most recent members' review
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Good film. Typical good cop in pursuit of serial killer so if you like those films it's worth a watch.
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News and features
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Constantine goes to hell and back
- 17 May 2005
Warner Home Entertainment has announced a mid-July DVD UK release for action-packed fantasy thriller Constantine. The film, based on the Hellblazer comic books written by British duo Jamie Delano and Garth Ennis, will be available from July 11th. Keanu Reeves, star of The Matrix trilogy, The Gift and The Watcher, plays the lead role of supernatural detective John Constantine. He stars alongside Rachel Weisz, the British actress who has featured in The Mummy films, About A Boy and Runaway Jury.... Read more
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The Watcher
A stylish thriller that recalls David Fincher's SEVEN, THE WATCHER is set in the urban landscape of modern Chicago. The story follows Los Angeles transplant Joel Campbell (James Spader), an ex-police detective who has relocated to Chicago in order to escape his past. It appears that a dangerous ...
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