The Rook (1994)

User Rating:

3.3/10   

Director:

Eran Palatnik

Writer:

Richard Lee Purvis (writer)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery

Plot Keywords:

Shaved Head | Kafka Esque | Surrealism | Printer | Neo Noir

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Martin Donovan	...	John Abbott
John MacKay	...	Bob Brice
Michael Finesilver	...	Donald Heller
Fritz Fox	...	Sean
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Karen Abrahams	...	Wain Shepard
Alice Connorton
David P. Dawson	...	Harrison Baker
Diane Grotke	...	Abby Trent
Damon Rice
Doug Stone

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Singapore:PG

A fascinating allegory

I saw this movie while I was in Russia, it hasn't been released on video in the US yet. The plot is somewhat standard, or so it appears at the beginning. Martin Donovan plays John Abbott, a church investigator looking into a murder. The world is similar to England in the mid to late 1800s but with odd touches such as primitive computers etc. The sets are similar to Brazil, as is the look of a lot of the movie although much more reserved and somewhat more sinister. The movie revolves around a man, Abbott, who starts supremely self confident but eventually has to deal with his own failings and flaws. He is a deeply religious man that must see in black and white but is surrounded by a world of greys. He represents a theocracy that is dealing with a widespread rebellion, which plays a part in the storyline. The movie is definitely not an action movie but more of a philosophical one, although some action sequences do take place. This is the type of movie that you will either love or hate. If you like Kafka you may very well like The Rook.