Feeling Independent? Well-Written Plot, Good Acting Make Far-Fetched Plot Believable
Typically, the Fourth of July weekend is reserved for high-budget fluff, so everyone can go to the movies, have a great time and not have to think for a second. This year, however, two movies broke that mold.
“Independence Day,” an action flick featuring Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum and Will Smith trying to stop an alien invasion, and “Phenomenon,” a “Forrest Gump”-like picture starring John Travolta, are both exceptional films.
For those of you who haven’t seen the trailers a dozen times already, “Independence Day” explores the possibilities of how we, as a nation and a planet, would react to a hostile alien invasion.
I don’t mean hostile like a couple of fighter planes. The aliens have several 15-mile-wide ships that basically demolish whatever target they desire.
Bill Pullman stars as the U.S. president who is being questioned because of his youth. He doesn’t really have a clue how to deal with the approaching alien ships, until his press secretary’s ex-boyfriend (Goldblum) arrives at the White House and informs him that they are going to attack.
Strangely enough, this film is believable. While it might seem contrived to some, I thought it was very well constructed. One of the biggest gaps in most similar films was covered very well - why the aliens are attacking.
In “Independence Day,” the attackers are moving from planet to planet after destroying all the resources on their own. We find out that they are much like us in that they breath oxygen and have the same tolerances to heat and cold as we do.
The film takes several leaps in logic that seemed far easier to believe during the movie than after, but that trait defines the summer movie season.
“Independence Day” was extremely suspenseful and the acting wasn’t half bad. Unless you go expecting the next “Forrest Gump,” you won’t be disappointed.
However, if you go to “Phenomenon” expecting another “Gump,” you’ll be blown away. “Phenomenon” would succeed any time of the year, and may just earn Travolta an Academy Award. He is given a role even more difficult than the one dealt to Tom Hanks in “Gump,” but makes it look easy.
Travolta plays George Malley, an average, small-town car repairman man who, at his 37th birthday party, walks outside and sees a strange white light.
Over the next few days he notices some very severe changes in himself. He begins to get drastically more intelligent, and understands things he never could before.
Eventually this intelligence gets to be too much for the townspeople. He is soon able to predict earthquakes, and move things with his mind. Most everyone is threatened by him, and either ignore him or make up stupid rumors to explain the unexplained.
Beyond Travolta’s excellent work, the supporting cast is marvelous. Forest Whitaker, as Malley’s friend, Kyra Sedgewick, as Malley’s dream date, and Robert Duvall, as the town doctor and Malley’s surrogate father, all do more than support the lead.
These three are also the only three people in the small town who don’t become afraid of Malley’s extraordinary intelligence.
“Phenomenon” will undoubtedly receive the same initial criticism that “Gump” did, in that they both are exceedingly melodramatic and don’t really go anywhere.
Perhaps that is true, but “Gump” is now praised as one of the best movies of this generation. “Phenomenon” shouldn’t be too far behind.
If you aren’t a frequent moviegoer, this is definitely the time to go. Whether you’re in the mood to watch a ton of stuff blow up, or cry your eyes out, “Independence Day” or “Phenomenon” will do the trick.
“Independence Day” Grade: B+
“Phenomenon” Grade: A