At First Sight (1999)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

Irwin Winkler

Writers (WGA):

Oliver Sacks (story)
Steve Levitt (screenplay)

Release Date:

15 January 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Only Love Can Bring You To Your Senses.

Plot:

A blind man has an operation to regain his sight at the urging of his girlfriend and must deal with the changes to his life.

Plot Keywords:

Massage Therapist | Box Office Flop | Based On Article | Blindness | Based On True Story

Cast

Val Kilmer	...	Virgil Adamson
Mira Sorvino	...	Amy Benic
Kelly McGillis	...	Jennie Adamson
Steven Weber	...	Duncan Allanbrook
Bruce Davison	...	Dr. Charles Aaron
Nathan Lane	...	Phil Webster
Ken Howard	...	Virgil's Father
Laura Kirk	...	Betsy Ernst
Margo Winkler	...	Nancy Bender
Diana Krall	...	Singer
Brett Robbins	...	Ethan
Willie C. Carpenter	...	Jack Falk (as Willie Carpenter)
Charles Winkler	...	Health Instructor
Drena De Niro	...	Caroline
Kelly Chapman	...	Susan (as Kelly Chapman Meyer)

Also Known As:

Sight Unseen (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for scenes involving sexuality and nudity, and for brief strong language.

Runtime:

128 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS

Certification:

Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | South Korea:15 | Philippines:PG-13 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | France:U | Germany:6 (w) | Iceland:L | New Zealand:M | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | UK:12 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #35785)

Filming Locations:

Bear Mountain, New York, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Cameo: [Dr. Oliver Sacks]one of the doctors attending the meeting where Virgil speaks about his experiences at the end of the movie.

Goofs:

Continuity: While walking downtown, Virgil is holding Amy's arm, and when the camera switches angles, she is holding his arm. A second later, he is holding her arm again.

Quotes:

Virgil: Maybe I'm not meant to see.

Movie Connections:

References My Fair Lady (1964)

Soundtrack:

It Never Entered My Mind

Amazing movie

I went into the theater expecting the normal amount of mushiness one can assume will be present in a love story. However, I was pleasantly surprised. At First Sight contains little sappiness, or other such material that only takes up time. Instead, the film was an honest look at one man's attempt to adjust to the "sight" world. At First Sight offered a look into the struggles Virgil Adamson faced after having sight for the first since he was 1. The film also outlined the pain of his loved ones, as they tried to help him adjust to a new environment, while facing pain and confusion themselves.

At First Sight is an emotional roller coaster. The film jumps around from rejoicing, sadness, frustration, confusion, and happiness. Yet because these are very real emotions for the characters, the audience sympathizes. The film uses these emotions artfully, without appearing to jam them down the audience's throat.

As any good movie will, At First Sight opens the audience's eyes to the people who live through these experiences. Everyday things, like what a bird is, and what an expression means at a given moment, must be explained Virgil. The lessons Virgil must learn and the way he deals with them are both amusing and sad.

This movie challenges traditional beliefs by stating that a "handicap" is a barrier. Often the real problem is trying to fix it.

If you're in the market for an excellent movie, with a solid cast, and good effects, see At First Sight.