At First Sight Reviewed by Mac VerStandig Critic@moviereviews.org 4 stars (Out of 4) After seeing At First Sight I found myself in a very rare scenario. As I tried to visualize how this review would go, what angles I would take, and whether or not this film deserved a positive or negative review, I was at a loss for both word and thoughts. But then, to quote one of my favorite films, Good Will Hunting, "Something occurred to me and I fell into a deep, peaceful sleep." It occurred to me that any movie capable of making me think that hard about it's entire panoply of elements is a great film for that reason alone.
The real beauty behind At First Sight is that any idiot can see it, and they will probably enjoy it and get something out of the whole experience. But when someone who is capable of thinking is to view it, they will be intellectually challenged by the incredible amounts of symbolism found within this great work. Everything in this film from a hockey stick to a school bus to a tree brings so much more significance to it than the 3 dimensions in which it exists. Not a scene will escape where this movie hasn't transformed an otherwise dull object, activity, or element of life into a richly vast rainbow of emotions.
Virgil Adamson (Val Kilmer) has been blind since he was 3 years old. Living in a small town and working as a masseuse for a resort, he had adapted to this handicap and his sister, Jennie (Kelly McGillis), had dedicated her life to helping him fight it. Absent of both a father and mother, the 2 have fought their way through life together. Their lives are filled with the routine necessary for a blind man, and that is the extent of excitement that they will encounter.
But all will change when Virgil falls in love with a client named Amy Benic (Mira Sorvino). As Amy slowly takes over his life, she convinces him that he can regain his sight through a complex medical procedure. After undergoing this treatment, Virgil indeed can see, but struggles with association and adjustment. Despite the help of therapist Phil Webster (Nathan Lane), things seem even blurrier than before. And so it is that the lack of a sense that he once claimed to be a handicap holds a presence that disables him even more.
On the surface this appears to be study of human sight, love, romance, and a life regained; but below the surface it is so much more. The lack of and regaining of sight are merely a vehicle for this film to explore some of the innermost complex human emotions. And it does that in a manner equivalently miraculous to the vehicle it uses.
Val Kilmer's performance is the best yet of this new year. He takes on a very demanding role and meets every expectation that could be imagined, then takes it one step farther. Nathan Lane also gives a wonderful performance in his small, but far from limited role. He actually manages to create a memorable and unforgettably emotional scene in a strip bar. However, as all things must have a down side, this film's weak link is Mira Sorvino. She is incredibly dull and unconvincing. She closer resembled to her father, Paul Sorvino, in Goodfellas than a young girl in love. And with that can only bring questions of whether or not she is capable of acting, or could Mighty Aphrodite have been a shear fluke.
At First Sight is not so much a film but rather a dazzlingly complex portrayal of symbolism. Although damaged by a sub-standard acting performance, At First Sight will still has an incredible effect on everyone that will see it. And it is for that reason that it is such a wonderful film.
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