This movie perfectly exemplifies two things SO wrong with modern American cinema, in the forms of Joel Schumaker and Julia Roberts. Joel Schumaker is one of those directors I hold largely responsible for the cultural dumbening (to borrow a 'word' from Lisa Simpson) of the US. His films so perfectly embody the very attributes that make stereotypic 'American Movies': the symbolism is heavy-handed, the actors are weak, the effects are big and the technology is misunderstood but overused! This man should have been stopped long ago, but I understand that people want to see this kind of popcorn chow garbage. Garbage like that has given freak-of-nature Julia Roberts her entire career, which now seems (thankfully) pretty well over. This woman overacts every line she's been given, chewing up the scenery with that gaping maw of hers and over-emoting every scene. This film joins these two paragons of modern cinema for a bland and nearly unbearable journey to the other side. Only Joel Schumacher could've taken such a large and (all things being relative) promising young cast and made it into a sub-B-movie schlockfest like this. Don't get me wrong: I REALLY don't like Oliver Platt, can barely stand looking at Son-of-Skeletor Kevin Bacon, and think Keifer Sutherland has been typecast to DEATH. That said, I still think a film like this shouldn't happen to a cast like this. I mean, I just don't like these guys, but I'm not saying they don't have their place (Kevin Bacon's supposed to be great in 'The Woodsman' and Keifer may be typecast but he does make a fun villain). A movie like this shouldn't happen to a DOG! The strange thing about 'Flatliners' is that it's not a bad idea, it just goes SO horribly wrong. The writer clearly had a very slim grasp of religious belief (and the lack thereof) and an even slimmer one of medical technology (EEG, ECG, who cares?). And, of course, Schumacher's not happy unless you KNOW he's there! Movies can be over-directed, Joel. Back off once in a while. The only reason to see this movie is for nostalgia (it is SO dated looking, and from a time Schumacher must've been a fan of Michael Mann) or for a loved one. In my case, it was for a loved one's nostalgia: my wife had fond memories of this movie from her teen years, but by the end even she was irritated by this pile of dung. I rated this movie at a 2, though, because at least it's not '"Manos" The Hands of Fate.'
Review of Flatliners
