Rating: * *½ out of * * * *
Rated R: violence, sexuality, nudity.
Running time: 104 minutes
Starring: Anne Heche, Vince Vaughn, Viggo Mortenson, Julianne Moore, William H. Macy, Robert Forester, Phillip Baker Hall, Rita Wilson and Mother.
Directed by: Gus Van Sant
When the word first came out that Hitch's masterpiece "Psycho" was going to be remade, everyone put the thoughts in their head that this was the worst thing anyone could ever do, how could you fix something that wasn't broken? The movie opened in December of '99 to a $10 million dollar opening weekend, and soon died out with only $22 million to it's name. A huge flop to a lot of peoples minds, and 75% of the people who saw it despised it, 20% of the people who saw it, thought it was OK, and the other 5% loved it. It's a scene-for-scene pointless remake that is enjoyable in it's own way of a homage to the original.
The story we all know, has Marion Crane (played quite well by Anne Heche) who is a very well-liked banker, on the run after stealing $400,000 from a trusting customer, she ends up at a hotel lost on the side of the highway run by an eccentric young man named Norman Bates (Vince Vaughn who is good in his role, but over the top at times). Norman invites the girl to stay at the hotel, and even invites her to dinner in his din. Norman's mother however does not like the fact of a girl in her din with her son, and Marion goes to her room for the night, only to be surprised in the shower, getting stabbed to death. Now her sister and her boyfriend must investigate her murder and find out who killed this young woman with (and if you don't know the twist your crazy) a great little twist at the end.
"Psycho" has alot going for it, it has some great performances especially by Julianne Moore who plays Lila Crane, Marion's sister. I have always loved Julianne Moore's performances and her best so far being in 1997's "Boogie Nights" or 1999's "Magnolia". Viggo Mortenson plays the boyfriend but he seems quite pulled back and not really giving all he can, which to me I don't even think he is a great actor. William H. Macy I will say right now gives the best performance as usual, as Detective Arbagast, he is easy going in his role and seems to be having a ball playing his character. The other performances are very well brought out with some great cameos.
Gus Van Sant's direction is another story, he is a very good director and it shows here, the shower scene is quite exquisite and almost seems more intense than the original. The biggest flaw in this film is the fact that its scene for scene, and nothing has been changed, its like watching a colorized version of the original, and at times seems out of place. I do agree with people who say it is a pointless movie, because why remake a classic if nothing is wrong with it? The original stands out as being one of the best horror films ever, and this remake to me tributes to the original, rather than trying to top the original. In now way did I ever feel this movie was trying to be better than the original, and I went into the theatre thinking of a homage rather than a remake.
For all you despisers of this movie, try watching it again and just think that Gus Van Sant was trying to make a homage rather than a remake, or top the original type movie, because as well all know it will never top the original. With some terrific performances, great directing, and some suspenseful scenes, "Psycho" is a remake that even though not as good as the original, still an enjoyable tribute to the man himself.
Reviewed by Brandon Herring 12-20-98
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