Review: Panic Room

By Jack March 28, 2002 11:21 PM

Once again, thanks to the Portland Mercury I had the opportunity to attend a screening of Panic Room this evening. Now, as many of you regulars know I'm a huge David Fincher fan, I had to use all of my will to refrain from gushing like a little girl at a Ricky Martin concert and actually critique the movie. Anyhoo, here goes..



Release Date: March 29th, 2002 (Friday)
Directed By: David Fincher
Written By: David Koepp
Photography: Conrad W. Hall, Darius Khondji (Trivia: The perfectionist director of photography Darius Khondji was fired because the filming was taking too long.)
Starring: Jodie Foster, Kristen Stewart, Forest Whitaker, Jared Leto, Dwight Yoakam. (Trivia: Nicole Kidman was originally cast to play the role of Meg Altman, but was forced to back out of the role due to a recurring knee injury. She originally injured the knee during the filming of Moulin Rouge).

Meg Altman (Jodie Foster) is a woman who is in the process of divorcing her wealthy, yet adulterous husband and as every divorce story goes she ends up buying an expensive new home in Manhattan where she hopes to start new life and care for her daughter (Kristen Stewart). One of the unique features of this house is that it features a panic room, a hidden chamber that allows the occupants to hide safely from any intruders to the home. During their first night in the new house, Meg is startled to see three figures moving about her home on the security monitors. Grabbing Sarah quickly, Meg heads into the panic room and seals them in.

Here's where plot thickens which turns out to not necessarily be such a good thing. We start seeing plot holes, unexplained elements and the whole suspense/thriller thing just really isn't there. The story becomes even predictable at times. But, the parts that are actually suspenseful are just that. Those were the times that will result in all the cliche' phrases quoting big name critics that we always see in the bad trailers such as "pulse-pounding," "edge-of-the-seat-thriller," etc..

Throughout the film we see David Fincher's distinctive visual style and some familiar camera moves (ala Fight Club). This and the overall production value and style really helped pull it through.

Jodie Foster is as always an excellent actress and is hotter than ever in this film (can you say MILF? she was pregnant with her second child during filming) as she breaks a sweat swinging a sledge at our mostly invincible villain. While Forest Whitaker did a great impression of himself in Ghost Dog, Jared Leto (who's work in Requiem for a Dream was, in my opinion Oscar worthy) seemed to be there solely for the sake of comic relief. Then there was the ever-present Country Singer/Actor Dwight Yoakam who wore a ski-mask through 80% of the movie.

Conclusion: I think Panic Room probably would have been a better movie if it were cut in length. If you want fun, violence, fancy camera work, eye-candy, and straight up entertainment this is the film for you. Don't expect an Acadamy Award or a strong story line. I give it a 6/10

| comments: 15

Reader Discussions:

Post YOUR opinion too!

Jodie.   reply

Posted by FredHater (fred_hater@hotmail.com) on March 29, 2002 6:09 AM

You gotta love Jodie Foster.

RE: Jodie.   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on March 30, 2002 12:47 AM

I thought she was a dyke?

RE: Jodie.   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on March 30, 2002 1:18 AM

That is because you are stupid.

RE: Jodie.   reply

Posted by FredHater (fred_hater@hotmail.com) on April 1, 2002 6:27 AM

Who cares if she is?

RE: Jodie.   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on April 1, 2002 10:44 PM

No, that is because I am informed and you are not.  She admitted her lesbian tendencies to many tabloids so I suggest you get a life.  Just beacasue you are a dyke dont be so defensive.

RE: Jodie.   reply

Posted by wonko (ryan@wonko.com) on April 2, 2002 12:11 AM

If she's a dyke, she's a dyke who's recently had two babies. I don't know too many sperm-spouting dykes, do you?

RE: Jodie.   reply

Posted by FredHater (fred_hater@hotmail.com) on April 3, 2002 6:10 AM

I'd be a lesbian too if I met the slobs that come to this website.

RE: Jodie.   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on April 3, 2002 7:25 PM

you are a lesbian because no guys like you.

RE: Jodie.   reply

Posted by FredHater (fred_hater@hotmail.com) on April 4, 2002 6:35 AM

Are you posting from an asylum?

RE: Jodie.   reply

Posted by Submissive-Girl (S&M@eureka.com) on April 4, 2002 3:42 PM

I'm bi-sexual, who gives a sh*t?

RE: Jodie.   reply

Posted by Submissive-Girl (S&M@eureka.com) on April 4, 2002 3:43 PM

By the way, this movie sucked honey hole...but not in a good way

RE: Jodie.   reply

Posted by power-trip (powertripz@hotmail.com) on April 5, 2002 4:19 AM

Didn't like Panic Room?  I would have guessed a strong female character would have been at least a turn on if not an inspiration, to a bisexual, submissive girl.

RE: Jodie.   reply

Posted by FredHater (fred_hater@hotmail.com) on April 5, 2002 5:49 AM

Say honey hole again.

I think  you are my favorite submissive bisexual.

RE: Jodie.   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on April 5, 2002 10:06 PM

Especially in the scene where she gets on her hands and knees to listen to the thumping coming from the room below. Her boobs nearly popped out of her top - Very suductive for a lesbie friend don't you think?

RE: Jodie.   reply

Posted by Submissive-Girl (S&M@eureka.com) on April 8, 2002 11:44 AM

No, she does nothing for me, although she was cute in "Maverick". I'd have prefered Charlize Theron, Angelina Jolie, Shannon Elizabeth or Alysa Milano in that role, and since she was in bed, they should have had her in some revealing and slinky sleep wear, perhaps Victoria's Secret or FLIRT or something. Oh well...perhaps next time guys.