Rating: PG-13
Movie Release Date: October 26, 2001
DVD Release Date: March 26, 2002
Plot 411: A psychologist takes on a patient who believes he is an alien from the planet K-PAX.
Review: A patient named Prot (Kevin Spacey) is transferred to a facility where he undergoes a psych eval conducted by an already overworked doctor named Mark (Jeff Bridges). Prot tells Mark that he is from a planet that is lightyears away from Earth and that he first visited our planet over four years ago. As Mark analyzes Prot further, he becomes way too attached to the patient. He starts obsessing about what could be wrong with Prot as his delusions are hardwired better than any other case Mark's come across. Things get even weirder when Prot's statements begin to be proven true. Can he really travel on a ray of light? Is he really from another planet? The other patients, and even some of the staff, begin to think so. Can it really be possible? This film kept you guessing all the way till the end. I was sure several times throughout the film that I knew the real truth behind Prot, but I found myself wavering between human and alien a number of times. Spacey's portrayal of Prot is amazing, especially when he is put under hypnosis. The character changes and emotional leaps he makes during this time are instantaneously revealed upon his face. Bridges also does a good job playing the skeptical doctor, and his character goes through a much needed transformation by the end of the film. The movie forces the audience to consider the difference between sane and insane. While scientists have probably made strides toward understanding mental illness, after watching this film you'll see that there is so much more to learn. What it takes for someone to be "cured" is often a mystery. However, another quite valid question would be whether or not they need to be cured in the first place.
Watch It: For a walk on the edge of limitless possibilities if you only let your mind accept the unbelievable despite the fact that society has taught you that the unbelievable is merely crazy.
Skip It: Because this is one of those movies that just plods along relentlessly until probably around the third act when all the loose ends begin to wrap up.
Movie Release Date: October 26, 2001
DVD Release Date: March 26, 2002
Plot 411: A psychologist takes on a patient who believes he is an alien from the planet K-PAX.
Review: A patient named Prot (Kevin Spacey) is transferred to a facility where he undergoes a psych eval conducted by an already overworked doctor named Mark (Jeff Bridges). Prot tells Mark that he is from a planet that is lightyears away from Earth and that he first visited our planet over four years ago. As Mark analyzes Prot further, he becomes way too attached to the patient. He starts obsessing about what could be wrong with Prot as his delusions are hardwired better than any other case Mark's come across. Things get even weirder when Prot's statements begin to be proven true. Can he really travel on a ray of light? Is he really from another planet? The other patients, and even some of the staff, begin to think so. Can it really be possible? This film kept you guessing all the way till the end. I was sure several times throughout the film that I knew the real truth behind Prot, but I found myself wavering between human and alien a number of times. Spacey's portrayal of Prot is amazing, especially when he is put under hypnosis. The character changes and emotional leaps he makes during this time are instantaneously revealed upon his face. Bridges also does a good job playing the skeptical doctor, and his character goes through a much needed transformation by the end of the film. The movie forces the audience to consider the difference between sane and insane. While scientists have probably made strides toward understanding mental illness, after watching this film you'll see that there is so much more to learn. What it takes for someone to be "cured" is often a mystery. However, another quite valid question would be whether or not they need to be cured in the first place.
Watch It: For a walk on the edge of limitless possibilities if you only let your mind accept the unbelievable despite the fact that society has taught you that the unbelievable is merely crazy.
Skip It: Because this is one of those movies that just plods along relentlessly until probably around the third act when all the loose ends begin to wrap up.
