POWDER
A film review by Ben Hoffman
Copyright 1995 Ben Hoffman
While the film, POWDER, would have to fall into the genre of science fiction, the film is absolutely mesmerizing. It happens that the genre is perfect for the story. Equally as important is that it tells us something about ourselves that everyone should by now know. And that is that anyone who is "different" from us is suspect, is to be ridiculed, and feared.
Powder (Sean Patrick Flanery) is such a person. His mother dies the day he is born. He is an Albino whose father is horrified when he sees him. The doctor says there may be other odd things about the baby. So when the father dies his grandmother puts him in a room that is the cellar of the cottage. Obviously, she does not want the neighbors to know about him. When Barnam (Lance Henricksen) finds out about him he calls on Jessie Caldwell (Mary Steenburgen) who runs a school for young men who have been in trouble with the law and need to be taught how to behave. Almost needless to add, the "students" begin to mock the newcomer. This leads to some very funny special effects.
Powder, it is discovered, has an I.Q. that is so high it cannot be graded. He also has other powers and these are used to startle those who try to take advantage of him. He can manipulate electricity, magnetize and do other special things that ordinary people cannot do.
Steenburgen is her usual kind, sweet self. Jeff Goldblum as the science teacher who befriends him is magnificently charming in the smallish role he has. Both the sheriff and his bullying deputy (Brandon Smith) are excellent. In short, then, this is a film not to be missed..
Written and directed by Victor Salva.
3.5 bytes
4 Bytes =Superb
3 Bytes = Too good to be missed.
2 Bytes = So so.
1 Byte = Save your money.
-- Ben Hoffman
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