Deadpan and deadly

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Keanu Reeves brings wooden touch to 'The Watcher'

By Paul Clinton
CNN.com Reviewer

(CNN) -- "The Watcher" brings nothing new to the "serial killer on the loose" genre, but it is, well, watchable -- though you may want to do your watching when it comes out on video.

This film stars James Spader, Marisa Tomei and Keanu Reeves, so be forewarned: Any performance by Reeves is usually a waste of perfectly good make-up. But, in this role as a psychotic killer being chased by FBI Agent Joel Campbell (Spader), Reeves' patented deadpan look and emotionless delivery actually works -- to a point.

Once again -- as with "Speed" (1994) and "The Matrix" (1999) -- the special effects are the star of the film, and Reeves is basically just swept along with the action in this psychological thriller.

And there is plenty of mindless action in this screenplay written by David Elliot and Clay Ayers.

Creeping killer

Reeves stars as David Allen Griffin, a cunning serial killer who watches his victims for weeks and documents their every move before killing them. He's been murdering women in Los Angeles and eluding Campbell for years, which finally takes a toll on the FBI agent. Traumatized and ill, Campbell goes on medical disability and moves to Chicago for a new, less stressful life.

But in Griffin's twisted tormented mind he and his pursuer have become a team; he misses their "game." So Griffin follows Campbell to Chicago and begins killing again. The former agent is drawn back into the chase when Griffin starts sending him photographs of the women he's targeting, daring Campbell to find them before they die.

With every death, Campbell's sense of helplessness grows. His only outlet is his sessions with his psychologist ,played by Tomei. Eventually, she too comes under Griffin's watchful eye, and things get extremely personal for Campbell.

This is Joe Charbanic's directorial debut. His background is in music videos, and Reeves brought him to the project after he directed a series of videos for Dogstar, the actor's band. Charbanic's background is evident in the film's action and pacing. He builds the tension nicely and continues to up the emotional ante at every turn.

Predictable stuff

There are plenty of holes in the plot, which the director fills with pounding music and flashy editing. Featuring little dialogue (always a good thing in any film starring Reeves), and lots of long montages, this taut cat-and-mouse game between Griffin and Campbell gets fairly predictable before reaching a spectacular finale.

Reeves is a movie star; he's not a great actor. Still, he should be commended for not taking the movie-star route with his career. It is a risk for a leading man to play the villain, and he pulls it off -- more-or-less -- with a lot of help from some great pyrotechnic devices.

Reeves may have the title role, but Spader is the actual star of this movie - and, as usual, gives a well-rounded, thoughtful performance. Spader is an extremely good and versatile actor. His major talents have been underrated almost as much as Reeves' meager talents are overrated.

In this lackluster film season, "The Watcher" will probably have a good opening weekend at the box office, thanks in large part to Reeves' star appeal and the movie's targeted demographic audience of 17- to 24-year-olds. Everyone else can wait for the video.

'Watcher' tops weekend U.S. box office
September 10, 2000
'Replacements' star Keanu Reeves scrambles
August 14, 2000
Tomei, D'Onofrio create their own 'Happy Accidents'
January 26, 2000

The Watcher

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