Perhaps, like the human race itself, "Instinct,"
far from flawless is nonetheless seductively
imperious, and yes, as lovable as a perfect
paradox.
Though difficult to accept when seen on the screen
for the first time, Anthony Hopkins plays a brutal
savage (Ethan Powell). Cuba Gooding Jr. is Dr.
Caulder, the star psychiatric resident. Seems
anthropologist Ethan Powell spent a few too many
nights out with the gorillas -- a few dead Rwandans
later, he's extradited to the U.S. for trial. In the
meantime, Caulder does his best to free Powell ...
from himself, from his insanity .. well at least from
Harmony Bay, your stereotypically violent psychiatric
prison.
It's a good film, but here's what it does poorly:
1) Its introductory special effects
(freezes/strobe-slowmo/reverse color) are cliché
and anti-dramatic. 2) Sutherland's Hollywood line,
"He lives with the animals ... becomes one .. how
does that happen?" sounds like an actor's line, not a
psychiatrist's. Is it really that unclear anyway?
Still, the over-dramatic question sets up the rest of
the film rather nicely. 3) Once the cocky Caulder
takes the case, he boasts, "What if I can get him to
speak?" The film inflates this question with nothing
more than hot air since we had not been shown even
one incident of Powell refusing to speak. Alas,
Caulder's line falls like a feather in a vacuum. 4)
Other relationships beg development. Powell's
daughter, a fine character, is used only
peripherally. Then there are Powell's fellow inmates,
although Caulder was strapped into consulting with
them, we see only dabs of interaction. 5) Gooding's
character is set up as the sharp buttocks-kissing
corporate climber, yet we witness him berate those he
works with at Harmony Bay. Although, it's fun, it
isn't Caulder. The actor is directed out of character
simply for dramatic effect. 6) And lastly, Powell's
personality is changed in only 2 years of "hangin'"
in the jungle. I would have expected 2 decades.
Okay, now the good stuff: 1) "Instinct" tells a
great story that stands steadfast to its sharply
pointed question. "Who is the real savage?" 2) Two
excellent performers. 3) Solid focused dialogue. Here
are a few examples: Powell, "There's more danger in
any city in the world than in the forest." Caulder,
"I never quit ... even when I'm doing something
really stupid." Caulder, "Your father may be very
ill." Powell's Daughter, "Oh really, I thought he was
just in a bad mood." 4) And of course, there were
times when the heavy dramatics actually worked. 5)
Lastly, the music. It's an excellent driving
score.
At the end of the day, "Instinct" has a pounding
heart so powerful that it makes its flaws drop like
ticks off the hide of a charging Silverback
gorilla.
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