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Safe House More at IMDbPro »
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| Index | 41 reviews in total |
14 out of 17 people found the following review useful:
Fascinating premise and interesting movie, 8 April 2006
Author:
TRoweTraining from United States
The concept of making the audience wonder whether the hero is really being threatened or is the victim of delusions, has been used several times recently. I enjoyed this take on it better than most and I love Patrick Stewart in any role! I hadn't expected it to be so heart-wrenching at times, but it was. One scene, in which Mace (P.S.)is doing a cognitive test for his doctor, was particularly effective. As a result, this was not only a suspense movie it had some very realistic portrayals of the slow but steady mental decline of Alzheimer's victims--and how tragic that is, as they realize it is happening. I think I appreciated that accurate and informational aspect as much as I did the mystery of Mace's activities with his complex computer set-up. I watched this while walking on my treadmill and usually do a movie in two sessions. This one kept me going through the entire time.
13 out of 18 people found the following review useful:
Excellent thriller, 26 June 2004
Author:
Grann-Bach (Grann-Bach@jubii.dk) from Denmark
This is a film about paranoia. When you think you're being watched, your every move being documented, your every action recorded and analyzed. Mace Sowell, an ex-military officer from a covert operations team no one knows about, is confined to his home, because he fears for his life. His daughter doesn't think that he is in danger, instead, she just thinks he's getting senile, or maybe he's just paranoid. He regularly runs 'drills' in order to keep himself prepared for any direct strike on his house. Meanwhile, he also discovers that he's slowly developing Alzheimer's Disease, which only makes things worse. The plot is great, the idea is quite original, and the movie moves along at a great pace; every scene has some development in the plot, and often it also has some great humor. The film delivers a great sense of paranoia all the way through. The acting is great, both by Patrick Stewart and Kimberly Williams. The consistent paranoia, the various intense scenes that are easily explained once they're over, the overall mood of the film, it all leads up to an exciting climax that only few will be able to figure out until it happens. All in all, a great thriller about paranoia. I recommend this to fans of thrillers, especially fans that are fond of conspiracy theories and paranoia in thrillers. 8/10
8 out of 14 people found the following review useful:
Simply put, you will not see a better movie this year, 2 May 1999
Author:
James Culver (culverjames@hotmail.com) from Spokane, WA
What an incredible movie this is! Patrick Stewart masterfully portrays a rich man who is trying to come to grips with the threat of Alzheimer's, and is plagued with paranoia and obsessive-compulsive disorder. This is nothing like Stewart has ever done before, and he deserves an Oscar more than any of the nominees this year did. Kimberly Williams (the bride in Father of the Bride) plays a psychiatrist who is assigned by the man's daughter to help him keep hold of his sanity, and the movie (most of the time) is about their growing relationship, which thankfully stays out of tired old romantic cliches and feels very real and very interesting to watch. It will no doubt remind many of movies like Rain Man and Good Will Hunting, and it is just as good, if not better, than them. It manages to be funny, touching, powerful, and clever, all in about equal doses. And rather than just confine itself to this plot, it moves back and forth between his paranoia and flirting with the notion that it may not be completely unfounded. Yet despite this jumping back and forth, it never fails to be as entertaining and interesting as any movie you'll see this year. This is a wonderful, highly overlooked gem of a movie, and I suggest you give it a look if you get the chance.
5 out of 9 people found the following review useful:
Patrick Stewart Shines, 19 July 2001
Author:
sddavis63 (revsdd@gmail.com) from Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada
Every time I see Patrick Stewart I become more and more impressed by
this actor's versatility. From Shakespeare to SciFi, from drama to
suspense to historical epic, Stewart does it all, and does it very
well. With "Safe House," Stewart demonstrates a wide range of talent,
including - what I enjoyed most - a flair for subtle comedy, unexpected
in a movie billed as a suspense flick.
I have to admit first off that if you're looking for a hair-raising,
edge of your seat thriller, look elsewhere. I spent a lot more of my
time sitting back chuckling than I did on the edge of my seat - and I
mean that positively. This was a very funny movie in many ways, laced
with some tense moments. Stewart plays Mace Sowell, a man suffering
from the early stages of Alzheimer's Disease, who tries to convince his
daughter Michelle (played by Joy Kilpatrick) that the life she thought
he had lived had been a lie, and that he had really been a military
intelligence officer whose life was now in danger because of the things
he knew. She, of course, assumes that her father is delusional because
of the Alzheimer's, and hires a caregiver (Andi Travers, played by
Kimberley Williams in a pretty decent performance) who Sowell distrusts
from the start, but finally begins to warm up to. There's the outline
of a pretty suspenseful movie there, except for one basic fault: I had
this thing figured out within about 10-15 minutes of the opening! It's
very predictable. However, I must confess that the decision to have
Sowell suffering from Alzheimer's throws a wild card into this, and
there were a few times when, with the twists and turns that happen, and
with Sowell's obvious confusion, I began to doubt what I had assumed
would happen. So it definitely managed to hold my interest. Stewart, in
addition to some wonderfully funny scenes, also showed his dramatic
flair as he portrays Sowell struggling with his emotions as he
confronts the disease beginning to ravage his mind.
Most of the other performances in the movie are solid but
unspectacular. I frankly found the character of Stuart (played by Craig
Shoemaker) to be nothing less than irritating. Why he had to play
almost every scene at least partly impersonating a famous actor was
beyond me, and I really just wanted him to go away after a while.
Hector Elizondo as Dr. Simon, Sowell's psychiatrist, was underused and
offered little.
Basically, though, this is a pretty good movie. I'd rate it as a 7/10.
6 out of 11 people found the following review useful:
The less you pre-know of the plot the more you'll enjoy this film, 29 March 2000
Author:
Grandlk. from Markham, Ontario
My one line summary is a reworking of the tag line "The less you know, the safer you are". Reading the original synopsis on IMDB gives too much away. If you haven't read it - don't. Just RUN to the store and rent this video. Be like me and don't read the synopsis on the box either. Just take my word for it and that of the anonymous author of the very well written comments that precede mine. This is a GREAT movie. It's witty, falling down funny, sad as blazes, suspenseful, and exciting. Stewart and Williams are dynamite together.
4 out of 8 people found the following review useful:
Some movies are epics, this one's a short story, 29 November 2003
Author:
downyokp from USA
I will start by admitting that I'm a Star Trek fan, and in particular a
Next
Gen fan. So yes, I have a bias towards liking Stewart, although I think
most can agree he is a skilled actor.
That concession aside, and as my summary suggests, this is not an epic
movie, just a short story. I loved the set design, which was quite
clever;
where most movies tend to create the impression of big houses and
locales,
this one manages to create the impression of close spaces, as appropriate
for a fortress in suburbia.
You will continue to guess at whether or not Stewart's paranoia is
justified
or just symptoms of Alzheimer's until the very end. Stewart is well
fitted
for the part, or at the very least he was convincing to me. I think this
particular says something since I'm used to seeing him as Captain
Picard.
I wouldn't try to sell this off as an accurate portrayal of how DIA
operatives act when they retire. I wouldn't know anything about that. I
don't even know if there is such a thing as the DIA.
What I will say is that the movie is best taken as a diversion, a fun
romp
that keeps you interested, but it doesn't grip you like an epic. Perhaps
rightly so, since the subject matter doesn't fit an epic movie
anyway.
As a final note, I still don't see anything wrong with genre mixing. Why
can't you have a drama that's funny, or a comedy with serious action, or
whatever it is you want to blend? If it works it works, if it doesn't it
doesn't, and it works for me here. (See as an example "The Big Hit,"
which
the writer called a "hip-hop comic Hong Kong action movie") This movie
is
a small little tidbit, to be taken and enjoyed as such.
8/10
5 out of 10 people found the following review useful:
So how do you eat your Twinkie ?, 10 August 2004
Author:
Tanya_Louise from United Kingdom
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
***** WARNING - SPOILERS *****
They say that everything there is to know about us is held on computers
somewhere , and that knowledge is power. It's also the ultimate life
insurance.
Patrick Stewart (Star Trek TNG) plays Mace Sowell , a recluse and ex
CIA operative , who is convinced someone is out to get him. His hi-tech
home is his castle , and his sophisticated computer is his key and
protector. Mace plays war games in and around his luxury home in order
to keep his whits sharp , which is something his mind and memory are
rapidly becoming the opposite of due to altziemers.
It takes a very talented , flexible and dedicated actor to play such a
challenging , yet intriguingly absorbing role. This is done to
perfection by Patrick Stewart , who ensures that your eyes will rarely
leave the screen for fear of missing something. One thing it definitely
isn't is a constant action movie , with dozens of SAS dropping through
the ceiling at every opportunity. Though we are treated to some
enjoyable and unexpected action scenes which gives the movie some zest.
And Mace's mental condition is seen from a slightly humorous angle but
at the same time without being insensitive , rather than delving into
the dry , serious side of it.
If you're looking for a 'fatal attraction' style thriller with an
original and unusual twist , then you should enjoy this movie. It's
worth it just for the one liner right at the end !
6 out of 12 people found the following review useful:
One of the best Showtime movies, 14 January 2001
Author:
Joshua Bozeman from Evansville, Indiana
This is a great film that premeired as a Showtime original picture in 1999, I believe. The plot is awesome, and it will leave you guessing the entire time, it's very entertaining to watch, even tho you are watching a poor man drift further and further into Alzheimer's disease. The setting of the film is in a very lavish, very expensive house in which a very rich man (Patrick Stewart) lives. After being diagnosed with the disease, his daughter decides he needs someone at the house to take care of him and whatever else needs taken care of. He is a proud man, and he's very stubborn in that he doesn't think he needs anyone to live with him. He is grouchy and rude to begin with, but he begins to warm up to the hired help (the bride in the movie 'Father of the Bride'--Kimberly Williams, I think?)...anyhow...it's been a while since I've seen the movie, but I remember he was involved in very top secret stuff during his career, and he is paranoid that someone is out to kill him. You see him thru out the movie practicing with a gun in and outside of his house (he won't leave the yard, he's so paranoid.) There is that element to the film, but there is also a much lighter note on top of everything. It's a comedy, a 'buddy' movie, and an adventure all in one. It is beautifully shot, unlike some of the originals you'll see on Showtime, and it was a nice change from most of the films they have done in the past. Stewart does a superb job, and he keeps you entertained thru the entire film. On the subject of plot changes and surprises...be prepared, it is very good in this way at the end.
7 out of 14 people found the following review useful:
Poorly Billed and misleading, 12 April 2004
Author:
Acharne from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
This movie was billed as a thriller and a semi caper film. Though I adore Patrick Stewart the movie had a very very 'Baywatch' feel, silly American production stereotypes and poor direction made it into a movie rather difficult to take seriously. Any scene with Patrick Stewart by himself is well done and believable. The other characters seem to get in the way of the main idea of the movie and blow of proportion the Clandestine sub plot (which was what the main plot was billed as) or the Maguffin if you will. This movie is worth a watch, but it isn't exciting or memorable really. Sloppy production, miscasting, misdirection and a weak story take away from what could have been a terrifying film about the middle aged 'coming of age' into senility and the fear that accompany's that.
3 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
Tremendously inventive idea, great writing, wonderful acting!, 3 May 2000
Author:
AlabamaWorley1971 from NJ, USA
What a brilliant idea: A former secret agent, who'd lied to his family about his real career, can't make anyone believe that his life is in danger from his old colleagues. Plus he's suffering from Alzheimer's, so is the conspiracy all in his head or for real? You sure want to believe him, but it gets harder as the film goes on. I was amazed and touched by Patrick Stewart's vulnerability as this proud man realizes he can't remember names and faces. Kimberly Williams was impressive, and I enjoyed Craig "Love Master" Shoemaker in the supporting role. Originally aired on Showtime. Go rent it!
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