Panic Review

Remember the other day when I said I was going to watch the complete Fincher catalogue? well tonight I completed the third leg in that race by watching Panic Room (2002) directed by David Fincher and starring Jodie Foster.

I must confess, I might be on the path to Fincherphelia, but not as bad as some people I know. The shots he employs (the zooms through the house) and the slow eerie score couple to add tension to each scene. Like Se7en (1997) none of the scenes are really throw away scenes, Fincher packs every frame with character development and plot and I must give him credit for that.

The plot kicks off quickly (15 minutes into a 112 minute movie the break in occurs) and I appreciate how even though it seems sped up at first, the pacing works itself around and we get a pretty fine film. But there is little action in the Hollywood sense of action. Keeping in line with the other Fincher movie's I've seen the action is all psychological, building a sense of fear inside the panic room and a sense of hostility and aggression on the outside. Also the plot is rather simplistic, the movie takes place in just a few rooms with the only real story being three robbers trying to get into the panic room of two victims.

For the sake of discussion there are really only five characters in this movie, but because they are so beautifully directed and their acting is all top notch the movie gets away with such a minimalist approach to casting.

In the lead role is Jodie Foster, and actress that much is expected of, and she delivers. Unlike the last movie I saw her in (The Silence of the Lambs) Foster does not bring a hardened agent in training angle to this role, but she does bring a perfect amount of concerned mother and panicked individual. If Foster had brought toughness the part would not have worked because so much of the movie hinges on the fear of Foster and Stewart, which brings me to the next actress I intend to discuss.

Kristen Stewart is most famous now for locking lips with "vampires" and hanging out with shirtless men, but she can actually act... even though she chooses to hide it now. She balances Fosters fear with a precocious bravery.

Jared Leto as the leader of the three burglars turns in a good performance as a guy who is sleazy and looking for money, that he could wait to inherit but he decides instead to steal it. There are a few things like this that do negatively impact the movie, although Leto is good, the motivation is flawed: What kind of heir plans a daring robbery of money they'll get anyways? This just struck me in a bad way.

Forest Whitaker is another actor that greatness is just expected of, and like Foster he delivers again. Whitaker's Burnham is the only one of the three who doesn't have malice as a motivation, he instead is looking out for his kids. He is actually like able, even though he's committing a felony.

But, even with all this the movie is stolen by a Country singer... Dwight Yoakam. His performance as Raoul was brilliant, equal parts sadistic and just a total bastard Yoakam holds his own with Foster and Whitaker and gives a strong performance that is one of the best in the movie.

So far I've seen three of Fincher's films, and this one is the worst (but that doesn't make it bad, it's just not as good as Se7en and Fight Club) The movie has a few plot holes (like the above stealing inheritance and other things like the husband knowing where the house was even though the call got cut off, etc.) but the movie is still very enjoyable and a very good movie.

Dr. Brooklyn says: LIKE this movie (8/10)