THE RELIC
A film review by Ben Hoffman
Copyright 1997 Ben Hoffman
It is early January and for the most part, those films that were not expected to be Oscar-nominated because they were so miserable, are now brought to light. One such is RELIC, a science-fiction film ridden with cliches.
There is hardly a well-lit scene in the entire film. Making dark scenes and using green ominous lighting to denote fear and terror are, of course, old tricks of the trade. Another is sudden LOUD sounds. It seems that every scene-change was accompanied by a very loud crash that had nothing to do with the scene on the screen. One noise that is supposed to scare is a cat knocking something over. Give me a break.
The film has no science worthy of the name but a good deal of fiction. "The basic premise," says Douglas Preston, who along with Lincoln Child wriote the book on which the film is based, "is that a virus can introduce genetic material into your own DNA which produces a hormone that can produce dramatic physical changes.
There are many examples in the animal world, such as a tadpole turning into a frog." Hardly the same thing.
In the film, there is an animal on a rampage of murder. Because of the lighting we barely see the creature until it is on fire and dashes thru the passageways. That is the only bit of special effects worth mentioning. OTOH, there are other special effects such as Dr. Margo Green (Penelope Ann Miller) an evolutionary biologist (sure!) who goes through hell without hardly a hair out of place. She is even given the opportunity to wear a tightly-fitting black sheath dress that also remains almost pristine. I think one shoulder strap slid a bit off her shoulder.
When all hell is breaking loose in the Museum, with people running out into the street and police spurring them on to leave quickly, police and ambulance sirens shrieking, Dr Green and Dr Frock (defrock?) (James Whitmore) are in the lab joking and carrying on a friendly conversation while waiting for the results of something they are testing. HELP!
Also lending his talents, as Detective Lt. D'Agosta are Tom Sizemore and Linda Hunt as Dr Cuthbert, the head of the museum.
Enough said.
Directed by Peter Hyams
Rating 1 BYTE
4 bytes = Superb 3 bytes = Too good to miss 2 bytes = Average 1 byte = Save your money
Ben Hoffman
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