Review of Don`t Say A Word

Introduction

The mind is a powerful thing - once it takes a grip of you, such as the onset of paranoia, then perceptions and emotions change, big time. Individuals who are categorised as `insane` are incredibly unfortunate, their life ceases to exist, and they become just numbers in a state institution. However, not all mentally ill people are insane, so perhaps it is more tragic when the individual knows that they have a serious problem, but can do little about it.

Don`t Say A Word focuses on such an issue, looking at how a tragic incidence has turned one girl`s (Brittany Murphy) life upside-down, leaving her mentally scarred. Her trauma links to a more present imminent disaster - when the daughter of psychiatrist Dr. Conrad (Michael Douglas) is kidnapped, he`s horrified to discover that the abductors` (Sean Bean) demand is that he break through to the disturbed young woman`s problems, as she knows a secret number, connected to the whereabouts of a precious diamond that the abductor wants. Against the clock, Conrad must fight not only to save his child, but also the safety of his wife (Famke Janssen) and the sanity of a disturbed young woman.

Based on a novel, the adaptation idea has been floating around Tinseltown for a good few years now, and back in the late 90s Michael Douglas originally came across it, but because he was currently doing a film (David Fincher`s The Game), he was unable to jump on the bandwagon. Four years later, it came around again, and this time Mr. Catherine Zeta-Jones was available. Securing an impressive supporting cast, including Oliver Platt and Jennifer Esporito, this is the result...

Video

2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen. Since this is a recent film, one would expect a crisp and clear print, and that is what one gets. Free from artefacts of any kind, the transfer has good colour definition and saturation, with a good use of the palette, which is diverse but always with good contrast.

The helmer of Things To Do In Denver When You`re Dead and Kiss The Girls, Gary Fleder, directs, and he uses some very good thriller techniques to increase the tension and suspense. By using different film stocks throughout - used in flashback sequences - different narratives entwine to focus the story and develop the viewer`s knowledge and perceptions. All in all, very good directing.

Special mention must also go to the editing, which is never anything but good throughout. The highlight has to be a subway collage - cutting between 1991 and 2001 seamlessly, to create a spooky and brutal scene.

Audio

Dolby Digital 5.1 (English). The surrounds are used effectively, bursting into life quite frequently during times of tension or any action set-pieces. The same goes for the subwoofer - in quite a few places it emits some great low tones and bass, and if on a high enough volume, will make your walls shake enough to warrant the neighbours to go crazy. The main audio stream is also crisp and clear throughout.

The script has many thriller hallmarks - surprises, twists, action, and thankfully: development. Nathan Conrad begins as a devoted husband and father, and soon shifts into a man-with-a-chip-on-his-shoulder-the-size-of-Manhattan persona as he battles to save the things that are most dearest to him. Written well, with a bit of humour injected, and some interesting characters, this is a more accomplished recent Hollywood thriller script.

Features

This went through the 20th Century Fox rental window, so it will be interesting to see if it was given a good array of features when it emerged on the retail market. Read on to find out...

The extras begin with an audio commentary from director Gary Fleder. A self-confessed film buff, his informative and anecdotal commentary is one of the better warblings provided on a recent DVD, as it doesn`t get boring, and at all times there is something useful to hear. Well worth tuning into.

There are also scene-specific commentaries on ten different scenes. Five actors contribute their vocals to two scenes apiece, and they are: Michael Douglas, Sean Bean, Brittany Murphy, Famke Janssen and Oliver Platt. Each commentary is interesting, with each star adopting a different approach to DVD commentaries. Douglas, for instance, doesn`t care much for what is happening on-screen, and instead likes to tell the production history - whereas Bean goes for a more direct approach. Both have their merits. The only slight shame is that it would have been better if all five actors got together and recorded a feature-length commentary, like the director did, as their interaction and full comments would have been better. Good nonetheless.

A section entitled "Cinema Master Class" is then split up into sub-sections, which are:

Pre-Production - Brittany Murphy`s haunting screen-test; storyboard to scene comparisons of two scenes ("The Bank Heist" and "Potter`s Field"); and a short interview with Arnold and Anne Kopelson, the producers of the film, about what their job description involves, and how they worked on Don`t Say A Word. All are good and give an accurate rendition of the start of the production process.

Production - three on-set clips, entitled "You Are There" are interesting and it`s clear that cast and crew are working in a laid-back atmosphere, as well as being able to see just what a set looks like; "Screening Rom Dailies: Aggie Escapes" is a nine-angle evolution of the scene, with the finished product alongside it - interesting but not groundbreaking; and finally there is a brief, but interesting, set tour with production designer Nelson Coates.

Post-Production - an insightful conversation with director Gary Fleder (which manages to not conflict with his audio commentary); a featurette entitled "Thriller Themes" which looks at the scoring of the film; and then a scene deconstruction (the trench sequence at the end of the film).

There are also three deleted scenes, and all are good, and although their presentation isn`t as good as the finished film, it is clear that they would have slotted into the film well - but due to time constraints they didn`t.

A short making-of featurette is also on offer, and it is nothing more than an extended trailer with some on-set footage. EPK fluff to be blunt.

The package is completed with "Vital Statistics" (no, not Janssen and Murphy`s measurements unfortunately...!), which is code for filmographies. All the main players have them - a static CV. Not that exciting.

The menus are animated well with music in the background and clips from the film. They are easy to navigate.

Conclusion

A thriller by genre, yet containing many styles throughout, this is interesting on paper alone. Beginning with a heist that screams Michael Mann, from there on in, psychology and action blend together to form a story that is every parent`s worst nightmare.

The acting is great - from Michael Douglas on fine form to Famke Janssen`s Rear Window character, as well as boasting some good turns from the supporting players.

Sean Bean`s villain, Patrick, is portrayed as a disillusioned man and not one who is fully corrupted or evil: instead he does what he does because he has issues. In fact, the objectives of each character in Don`t Say A Word are interesting, with some being more obvious than others.

As long as you don`t over-analyze the plot, this is one of the best Hollywood thrillers of the 21st century so far, and the panning it received from most critics was unjustified. Led by Gary Fleder`s intelligent directing and other factors - editing, acting, cinematography, narrative, structure - this is well worth trying out.

The disc itself is very impressive: near-flawless presentation with a set of extras that is possibly the most comprehensive selection from a one-disc release.

Before I saw the DVD, I wrote this off as `another clichéd thriller`, but on watching - and seeing what a good disc the film is presented on - I have to bite my tongue and declare Don`t Say A Word worthy of a place on your wishlist.