As an Alex Cross fan and a fan of Patterson's books, this new one with Morgan Freeman again portraying Forensic Detective Alex Cross was intriguing and in the end, a shocker. When a Government Official's daughter is kidnapped, Cross is brought in by the kidnapper, to break the clues. There is double-cross and triple cross in this thriller movie. Jezze (Monica Potter), a Secret Service agent who was assigned to guard the girl, joins him in his search for the kidnapped girl. In twists and turns, the plot thickens when Cross realizes that the kidnapped girl is a ploy to get an even bigger prize, a Russian diplomat's son. Morgan Freeman is Alex Cross and gives a fine performance as he did in "Kiss The Girls" with Ashley Judd. However, when the kidnapper starts him on a running journey to answer one payphone after another, it stretches my belief limit. Potter turns in a great performance as the partner he really didn't want but said, "If he didn't let her help him, she would just follow him anyway" and the ending was a shock to me. I never would have guessed it. I won't give it away here but let's say that Monica Potter has a big future in movies and her resemblence to Julia Roberts was not overlooked and can't hurt. This movie is all you expect from a mystery thriller and I cannot see anyone but Freeman playing Detective Alex Cross. If you enjoy a thriller that thrills and gives you unexpected turns, this movie is for you. Well done, well acted, well made and well worth your time.
Reviews
2 Reviews
Stella Had A Groove?
11 February 2002
Warning: Spoilers
On a rainy, dreary day recently I popped this movie in looking for light and comedic entertainment. I was disappointed. The movie starts with Stella in a bad mood, with a magnificent job and a home that I noticed was so nice, it had a reflecting pool. I watched as Stella moaned and complained about her ex, her job, her life, ad nauseum. Angela Bassett's portrayal of Stella was one of anger however I admired her buff physique, left over from her Tina Turner portrayal which was excellent. So I tried to find sympathy for Stella. However, the director never gave we, the viewers, any reason or background to feel any sorrow or empathy for Stella. She had it all. When Stella takes her vacation to Jamaica and meets William Shakespeare (Taye Diggs), it was hard to work up any enthusiasm because she was so angry, angry at the world. However, the scenery in the film was breathtaking and the age difference between the two seemed a bit much but did not interfere with what could have been a great love story. It bothered Stella more than it did me. Still Stella remained ungrooved.
Caution ***Movie Spoiler*** Upon returning home from a dream vacation, Stella loses her job and upon the advice of her good friend Delilah (Whoopi Goldberg), goes back to Jamaica which told me that losing her job did not affect her high-flying lifestyle. If only Stella appreciated her circumstances as much as I did. In summary, I saw Stella as not having a "groove" and Bassett carried her character through the movie with such anger, I felt myself recoiling from her verbal barbs and angry displays toward William, his parents, and all those around her. Only when she finds out Delilah's secret, does she drop the angry attitude and pity party to help someone else. Because we were never given a reason to feel any compassion or sympathy with Stella, it is my opinion that Stella Never Had a Groove to get back. Bassett stomped her way through this role as if Ike were chasing her in that other movie; and I would have much rather had more access to Delilah's world. Taye Diggs did what he does best which is to look great. All in all, How Stella Got Her Groove Back is less that what I expect from actress Angela Bassett.
Caution ***Movie Spoiler*** Upon returning home from a dream vacation, Stella loses her job and upon the advice of her good friend Delilah (Whoopi Goldberg), goes back to Jamaica which told me that losing her job did not affect her high-flying lifestyle. If only Stella appreciated her circumstances as much as I did. In summary, I saw Stella as not having a "groove" and Bassett carried her character through the movie with such anger, I felt myself recoiling from her verbal barbs and angry displays toward William, his parents, and all those around her. Only when she finds out Delilah's secret, does she drop the angry attitude and pity party to help someone else. Because we were never given a reason to feel any compassion or sympathy with Stella, it is my opinion that Stella Never Had a Groove to get back. Bassett stomped her way through this role as if Ike were chasing her in that other movie; and I would have much rather had more access to Delilah's world. Taye Diggs did what he does best which is to look great. All in all, How Stella Got Her Groove Back is less that what I expect from actress Angela Bassett.
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