Blink (B+ or 3/4 stars)
'Blink', a clever & creepy thriller directed by Michael Apted, stars Madeleine Stowe as Emma Brody, a blind woman since she was a young girl {at the hands of her abusive mother} who now plays the violin in a Chicago band. Emma is not your typical blind person; she is independent, intelligent, tough, cynical, & she likes to imbibe from time to time. Shortly after the film opens, she is given a corneal transplant, and finds that she can kinda sorta see for the 1st time in over 20 years.
But her mind is overwhelmed by a flood of images, or "vision flashes" {some may be current, or from a short while ago, or distant memories}; sometimes the images are something that doesn't even 'register' with her 'til hours later. i.e., the frightening visual of a man in the hallway outside her apartment ... who may have just murdered her upstairs neighbor -- scary! Not sure if her new corneas are deceiving her, Emma calls the police anyway and, detective John Hallstrom (Aidan Quinn) becomes involved with the case, as well as Emma, herself. From here on out, the killer is hell bent on getting Emma -- but why? -- and John does all he can to protect her as they try to figure out the mystery. Drama, scares, & a neat trick involving the killer ensues.
The plot is definitely your typical lurid thriller, and yet, it is smartly executed, and with stellar performances, to boot; ya don't get that with this film genre very often. Madeleine Stowe & Aidan Quinn bring a no nonsense edge to their characters {both individually, and together in their love-hate rapport} that makes them feel very believable, and not just cardboard characters in a thriller. The way they speak & what they say rings with authenticity; making the more loonier aspects of the plot feel quite plausible. Stowe, in particular, gives a very thoughtful and intense performance.
Famed cinematographer, Dante Spinotti, & director Apted's special effects team, led by Art Durinski, do an incredible job - not only providing rich, stylish visuals that create added suspense - but also providing us a lens {no pun intended} into what Emma sees, can't see, or THINKS she sees. The distorted images disorient us & make us feel like we are right there with Emma every foggy step of the way. The narrative also does well to make us believe that any outcome can happen: Emma dying, John dying, both living, a surprise killer, etc. 'Blink' is an uncommonly good thriller that delivers jolts, unsettling images & tension in spades.
But her mind is overwhelmed by a flood of images, or "vision flashes" {some may be current, or from a short while ago, or distant memories}; sometimes the images are something that doesn't even 'register' with her 'til hours later. i.e., the frightening visual of a man in the hallway outside her apartment ... who may have just murdered her upstairs neighbor -- scary! Not sure if her new corneas are deceiving her, Emma calls the police anyway and, detective John Hallstrom (Aidan Quinn) becomes involved with the case, as well as Emma, herself. From here on out, the killer is hell bent on getting Emma -- but why? -- and John does all he can to protect her as they try to figure out the mystery. Drama, scares, & a neat trick involving the killer ensues.
The plot is definitely your typical lurid thriller, and yet, it is smartly executed, and with stellar performances, to boot; ya don't get that with this film genre very often. Madeleine Stowe & Aidan Quinn bring a no nonsense edge to their characters {both individually, and together in their love-hate rapport} that makes them feel very believable, and not just cardboard characters in a thriller. The way they speak & what they say rings with authenticity; making the more loonier aspects of the plot feel quite plausible. Stowe, in particular, gives a very thoughtful and intense performance.
Famed cinematographer, Dante Spinotti, & director Apted's special effects team, led by Art Durinski, do an incredible job - not only providing rich, stylish visuals that create added suspense - but also providing us a lens {no pun intended} into what Emma sees, can't see, or THINKS she sees. The distorted images disorient us & make us feel like we are right there with Emma every foggy step of the way. The narrative also does well to make us believe that any outcome can happen: Emma dying, John dying, both living, a surprise killer, etc. 'Blink' is an uncommonly good thriller that delivers jolts, unsettling images & tension in spades.