From Deseret News archives:
Hollow Man
Film review
"Hollow Man" is exactly that, a shallow, over-the-top, science-fiction thriller that could have really been something. It's certainly got all the ingredients: a good premise, a talented cast and dazzling digital effects.
However, this revisionist (uncredited) version of H.G. Wells' "The Invisible Man" winds up being more sleazy than thought-provoking, and the main reason can be summed up in one word: Verhoeven.
Make no mistake, it's slick-looking enough. But in his increasingly unrestrained hands, it quickly devolves into a gory howler with bad dialogue and a hokey ending that could have come from innumerable bad horror movies.
The title character is Sebastian Caine (Kevin Bacon), a research scientist working on a top-secret project for the U.S. government. He's already made one startling discovery how to make animals invisible to the naked eye with an irradiated serum.
Unfortunately, he's missing the second part of the equation, which is how to return the animal to visibility and without permanent damage to the test subject.
To no one's surprise, the first part of the experiment succeeds, and Sebastian's body vanishes from sight. However, the "reversion" formula fails to work on the scientist/human test subject, who's becoming increasingly unstable.
Sebastian begins sneaking out of the compound at night to peek at a voluptuous neighbor. And his behavior takes on a murderous bent when he gets a whiff of Linda and Matt's romantic relationship, and when his fellow scientists threaten to blow the whistle on him.
It's a familiar but workable premise. But with Verhoeven directing, somehow it gets more and more ludicrous by the minute.
In fact, by the time the second hour rolls around, the film becomes nothing more than an excuse for him to showcase the admittedly terrific special effects, as well as ample female flesh and, especially toward the end of the film, over-the-top gore.
Surprisingly, even the performances aren't all that good. Bacon (who is reduced to a disembodied voice for much of the film) doesn't seem to know whether to go over the top or be more restrained, while neither the stiff Shue nor the smug Brolin make particularly sympathetic heroes.
"Hollow Man" is rated R for graphic violence (including impalings and sexual attacks), strong profanity, gore, male full and female nudity, simulated sex acts and vulgarity (a particularly crude joke told by Bacon's character). Running time: 114 minutes.
E-MAIL: jeff@desnews.com
Comments
Cast: Kevin Bacon, Elisabeth Shue, Josh Brolin, Kim Dickens
Find a Movie Theater
- Warming fuels hidden wealth 9:44 a.m.
- 4 relatives shot dead on holiday 9:42 a.m.
- Criminal probe on party crashers? 9:40 a.m.
- Crashers posed no danger to Obama 9:37 a.m.
- Dubai seeks to assure markets 9:36 a.m.
- Iran censured at UN nuclear meeting 9:34 a.m.
- Sprinter took steriods to be fastest 9:34 a.m.
- Shoppers rev up holiday season 9:32 a.m.
- Shoppers 'experience' Black Friday 8:39 a.m.
- World markets fear Dubai debt 8:13 a.m.
- BYU would like friendlier rivalry
262 - Protests against Phoenix LDS temple
211 - RSL wins MLS Cup on penalty kicks
202 - Bronco, Kyle rubber match
139 - Thunder rolls by Jazz
136 - Letters: Rushing to judge Palin
133 - Boys basketball rankings
118 - Editorial: Poor welcome for Palin
112 - Hall, Johnson matchup key
102 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
101
Good luck to both teams and may both teams' fans applaud good plays and think...
Waaaah! It's all in fun. If you are looking to be offended, you will be...
People are so childish and apparently ignorant that they will sign up the...
Thanks to the Deseret News for posting this each year. It is a great service...
As much as some Utah fans would like to think so, Utah isn't nearly as good...
Hey Anonymous~ If you were active LDS you would know that hundreds, if not...
Smith--what do you have against libraries? Have you been in the Farmington...
Could I really the first person to comment on this story? Booz really D-will...
Bub, wow that was quaint. Is the Mtn. still broadcasting in Standard Def,...
Is that a word? See the "uneducated" posts in other articles. Exhibit B




You can be the first to comment on this story.