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Movie Review - Red-Eye (2005)
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(What this rating means)
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| Director: |
Wes Craven |
| Starring: |
Rachel McAdams, Cillian Murphy, and Brian Cox |
| Rated: |
PG-13 (for some intense sequences of violence, and language) |
| Length: |
85 minutes |
| Genre: |
Psychological Thriller |
| Tagline: |
Fear Takes Flight |
| Studio: |
DreamWorks |
| Website: |
Red-Eye |
| Release: |
August 19, 2005 |
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PLOT
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Lisa Reisert (McAdams) hates to fly, but her grandmother's funeral in Texas left her with no choice. When her
flight home to Miami is delayed she meets a charming young man with the unfortunate name of Jackson Rippner (Murphy).
They exchange pleasantries, have a drink together, and go about their merry ways.
Upon boarding the plane, Lisa is pleasantly surprised to find that she is seated next to Jackson. Maybe this
flight won't be so bad after all! Oh, wait a minute; Jackson appears to be a little more menacing than first
expected. It doesn't take long for him to reveal that he's in the business of government overthrows and
assassinations, and unfortunately for Lisa he needs her help on his current job.
What's a gal to do? If she refuses to cooperate, then her father will be killed. However, if she *does*
cooperate then a key government figure and his family will be murdered. When you're trapped within the confines of a
jet that's 30,000 feet in the air you don't have a lot of time or options. It's up to Lisa to act quickly
and figure a way out of this mess. The lovely Rachel McAdams in tense situations ensues.
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JOHNNY'S TAKE
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Tense. Gripping. Somewhat formulaic but constantly entertaining and interesting. All words to describe a
Johnny Betts movie review. Well, except the "formulaic" bit. But these words can also be used to describe
Wes Craven's new film Red-Eye. The man who brought us Freddy Krueger is stepping out of the horror
genre to bring us a thriller void of supernatural elements, and I'll be so bold as to proclaim that he has
succeeded.
The story is very simplistic as it's built completely around two main characters - Lisa and Jackson. "Only two
central characters, Johnny? How can such a basic premise work?" Well, dear reader, the reason this works so well
is because of the strength of the actors. I love Rachel McAdams (somebody issue that restraining order NOW), and
she excels at making the audience truly feel what a vulnerable position she's in. Plus, McAdams is a good,
believable crier. I hope Ashley Judd is somewhere taking detailed notes.
When you're on a plane you simply have nowhere to go, and how exactly can you inform somebody about what's
going on when you've been told such an action will result in your father's death? Tough choices. I complain
when I have to decide whether I want a $1 Big 'N Tasty from McDonald's or a $1.29 Jr. Bacon Double Cheeseburger
from Wendy's, so I can't imagine what I'd do if I were in Lisa's situation, but it sure is intriguing watching
her try to figure a way out.
Then there's Murphy (who was very effective as The Scarecrow in Batman Begins).
He has that perfect "OK, I’m creepy, but I also appear somewhat innocent" look. Reminds me a little of my Uncle
Larry. He knows how to be a charming guy, but there's something about the eyes that makes you suspect he could
snap at any moment.
Murphy's very methodical in what he does. He knows they're surrounded by a plane full of people and that Lisa
might try to find a way to get help, so he's planned for those contingencies. One thing I liked is that even
after it's revealed that he's involved in some pretty nasty business, it's portrayed as, "Hey, just doin' my job,
sorry, don't have time to consider moral repercussions!" His character isn't painted as an over-the-top,
handlebar mustached, Cheshire cat pettin' baddie. He starts off as a likable guy, but you know it's inevitable
that things are going to turn sour, and then he acts as if he's almost regretful he's had to put sweet, cute little
Lisa in this situation. But that doesn't stop him from delivering a nasty headbutt when the situation calls for it.
I'm always happy to see characters with a little depth.
My main complaint is that the movie starts to feel formulaic during the third act. It turns into a
cat-and-mouse-when-will-the-bad-guy-jump-out-from-a-hidden-location thriller that, while still enjoyable, is just
a little routine. That didn't stop people at the theater from yelling out instructions such as, "Oooooh, girl, you
so stupid! He behind the door! Please don't go in there! Watch out!" Folks, the people in the movie can't hear
you and thus they can't follow your expert advice. Anyway, the movie kept my attention and interest the entire way,
so that works for me.
But just when I felt I'd been entertained by a fictional movie, I had to go and read the press notes and, in
particular, Wes Craven's quote, "After all, you never know who you are going to sit next to on a plane." Great,
thanks. Excuse me while I don't fly for a few more months.
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ODDS & ENDS
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- McAdams was the only actress the filmmakers met for the role of Lisa.
- Two days before his wedding, Murphy flew from London to Los Angeles to meet with Wes Craven and producer
Marianne Maddalena about the role of Jackson Rippner. His wife-to-be was very nervous that he wouldn't make it
back in time for the wedding. Craven was immediately impressed with his enthusiasm and commitment to land the
role.
- Fans of reality TV might recognize Survivor castmember Colby Donaldson, who plays the head of security
for the Deputy Director of Homeland Security.
- Most of the airport scenes were filmed at Ontario International Airport which was made to resemble Dallas
International Airport. Given the current conditions surrounding airport security, it was almost impossible for
any large airport to accommodate an entire production team for any length of time. Ontario, however, was willing
to give them the access they needed.
- Red-Eye’s climactic chase scene was filmed at Miami International Airport.
- Space constraints made it impossible to shoot on an actual plane, so a rented aircraft was reconfigured to fit
the specifications of a Boeing 767. There wasn't a 767 available to rent for this purpose, so they took pieces
from different airplanes and put them together.
- To simulate turbulence, the special effects group built a hydraulic deck measuring 105 feet long and 24 feet
wide. The mock-up of the 767 was built on the deck, which in turn rested on a cushion of 50 specialized air bags,
each capable of lifting 8,000 pounds. Special effects supervisor Ron Bolanowski explains, "By inflating and
deflating the airbags, we could raise and lower the deck, and we had hydraulic rams connected to the sides of the
platform, which could shake it to simulate turbulence."
- Rachel McAdams was in The Notebook with Ryan Gosling who was in Remember
the Titans with Will Patton who was in Into the West with Josh Brolin who was in Hollow Man with
Kevin Bacon.
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MAMA'S APPROVAL
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Mama could handle this one. There are a few "s words," but profanity really isn't very extreme (although there is
one f-bomb). There is no nudity or sexual situations. Some scenes might definitely be too scary for younger
children (especially if you don't want them to have a fear of flying), but it should be OK for mature 10-year-olds
and up.
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TRAILER COMPARISON
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The trailer is very effective and representative of what to expect though I think the most recent one gives away
just a little too much.
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THE GIST
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If you're looking for a tense, engaging thriller with very good acting then Red-Eye should satisfy. Keep in
mind that things do get a little predictable towards the end, but overall it should keep your interest. Plus,
there's just watching Rachel McAdams for 90 minutes is entertaining in and of itself.
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