At First Sight (1999)

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.

Director:

Irwin Winkler

Writers:

Oliver Sacks (story "To See and Not See") (as Oliver Sacks M.D.), Steve Levitt (screenplay)

Stars:

Val Kilmer, Mira Sorvino, Kelly McGillis

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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)

Storyline

First Sight is true to the title from start to finish. Val Kilmer skates in the dark appears FIRST to Mira Sorvino car headlights driving lost searching for her retreat spa motel. Kilmers FIRST visual memory links him coincidently to his last. This is a true love drama with Nathan Lane providing laughs counseling visual therapy. All stars emotional vulnerability teach the audience learning love matters in art, architecture, education, parenting, massage and trees.

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Plot Keywords:

visual agnosia | brother sister relationship | regaining sight | massage therapist | based on article | 

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Taglines:

Science gave him sight. She gave him vision.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Details

Official Sites:

20th Century Fox [Spain] Imperial [Poland]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 January 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Sight Unseen

Filming Locations:

Lenox Hill Hospital, 210 E. 64th. St., New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$60,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$8,444,321, 17 January 1999, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$22,365,133

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

128 min

Sound Mix:

DTS

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Val Kilmer prepared for his role by studying with a sculptor friend of his in New Mexico who had lost his sight in Vietnam. At 49:30 (NTSC) he is admiring a sculpture when he first visit's Amy's flat.

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Goofs

At the end of the movie Virgil and Amy walk away and Virgil is letting his new guide dog lead him. The guide dog walks straight past the curbside obstacle without hesitation. No working guide dog would have missed this obstacle, it is too inbred during their training. Missing an obstacle of this magnitude would have called for, at the very least, a firm word of caution if not a subtle leash correction. The guide dog would have also stopped to check for traffic as Virgil did not seem to be paying attention.

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Quotes

Virgil: Great. I'm blind and you're deaf. What a perfect pair.

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Crazy Credits

At the start of the closing credits: Inspired by Dr. Oliver Sacks' true account of the experiences of Shirl and Barbara Jennings They are now married and living in Atlanta, Georgia Barbara continues to sculpt and although Shirl never regained his vision, he now paints pictures of his brief adventure in sight

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Connections

References My Fair Lady (1964)

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Soundtracks

It Never Entered My Mind
Music by Richard Rodgers
Lyrics by Lorenz Hart
Performed by George Shearing
Courtesy of Concord Jazz, Inc.

User Reviews

"Awakenings" Redux

I saw this film on AMC and part way through it, I felt as if I had seen it before. Then I realized I was thinking of the 1990 Penny Marshall film "Awakenings," starring Robin Williams and Robert De Niro.

"At First Sight" is a true story about a blind man who temporarily regains his sight, then goes blind again. "Awakenings" was about a comatose man who woke up temporarily, then slid back into a comatose.

Oh, and by the way, they're both written by the same guy.

For what it's worth, "Love At First Sight" is actually a pretty likable and overall watchable film. It's not great or anything unpredictable (how convenient - the female love interest) but Kilmer gives a remarkable performance (all considered) and there are a few moments in hte film that are a BIT out of the ordinary.

Worth watching, but don't go out of your way or anything.