Jessica Alba in "The Eye"
courtesy of Lionsgate Home Entertainment
“The Eyes of Alba Are Upon Us”

I am a Jessica Alba fan. For a long time I thought she was just a very pretty actress but lately I am more and more impressed with her acting talent. Alba stars in "The Eye," a movie now out on DVD, with a plot that seems tailor made for Sarah Michelle Geller. But Alba or Geller, it doesn't matter, since the key role is for a pretty girl in peril. Both of these young actresses along with a hundred others could handle the part. Since Alba is my personal favorite among this group, she enhances the movie.

Alba plays Sydney Wells, a professional violinist who has been blind since a childhood accident involving her sister Helen (Parker Posey). Now she is going to have corneal transplants and hopes to regain her vision. After the operation her vision seems fuzzy but the doctors tell her that is to be expected.

What is not expected is the appearance of some people that only she can see. They appear at random times and seem to be trying to give her some kind of message. The message involves fire and death. Since these "visions" are driving her crazy she seeks the advice of a psychiatrist (Alessandro Nivola). He basically tells her it is just her mind adapting to being able to see.

Of course things go from bad to worse as these "supernatural" apparitions keep intruding into her world. Finally Sydney reaches the point where she wishes she were blind again.

Alba plays the main role with ease. Her beauty is such that it adds to her vulnerability and the viewer feels protective of her from the start. The role doesn't demand a lot of her dramatically but she handles all that is required suitably.

Nivola makes only a slight impact as the psychiatrist, and if there is any romance between him and Sydney it isn't shown. Parker Posey is terribly miscast as the sister. Posey is a quirky actress who excels in roles that are out of the norm. The role of Helen is a normal role.

"The Eye" is based on the Hong Kong film "Jian Gui." It is adapted convincingly to a United States/Mexico setting. 

There is enough excitement and mystery in the film to hold an audience's interest. This isn't the best movie you will see this year by any means, but it is the best Jessica Alba movie I have seen in a while. That is saying something. So get this DVD and see Alba in action. I think you too will be convinced she is growing as an actress.

Ron Livingston and Rob Schneider play buddies in the new DVD “American Crude.” As you will surmise a few minutes into this film the title does not refer to oil. This is an R rated comedy about a bachelor party that gets out of control.

Adding to the fun are characters played by Michael Clarke Duncan, John C McGinley, Jennifer Esposito and Missi Pyle. The people who attend and/or crash the bachelor party are a strange group indeed and make the humor dark and the plot twisted.

This isn’t a movie for everyone’s taste. It earns its R rating legitimately. So be careful in your selection.

Another off beat comedy is “Mama’s Boy.” This one stars Jon Heder of “Napoleon Dynamite” fame. He has never been one of my favorites but in this film he actually entertained me. Maybe it’s because he plays Diane Keaton’s son and I adore Diane Keaton.

In the movie Heder is one of those guys who never grows up and leaves home. Though he is twenty-nine years old he still is in his mother’s house. But one day his mother meets someone who takes an interest in her. This new guy’s name is Mert (Jeff Daniels) and he and mama click.

Now it becomes a war of the males in mama’s life. Who will win and who will lose, well the name of the movie is “Mama’s Boy.”

Denis Leary had to go back to television to find major success. He had a fairly successful career in movies but on television in “Rescue Me” he is a major star. Fans of the show appreciate the rawness and bluntness of this tale of firefighters and their lives and loves.

“Rescue Me: The Complete Fourth Season” is now out on DVD and it is a grand collection of the full set of stories told on the show that year. In addition to Leary the series offers the talents of Susan Sarandon, Jennifer Esposito and Gina Gershon as well as regulars Charles Durning, Tatum O’Neal and Dean Winters among others.

It is wonderful to be able to sit down and watch the entire season straight through from beginning to end. Plus you get deleted scenes and a blooper reel. Go out and get it now and have a “Rescue Me” night.
 

 

 

 

 

©2008 Jackie K. Cooper

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