Review of Cape Fear (1991) by Tim C — 04 Feb 2015

The original "Cape Fear" starring Robert Mitchum as the loathsome Max Cady was a dark and brooding film, but cannot honestly hold a candle to Scorcese's remake starring an in-his-prime Robert DeNiro as a more visceral, all-wordly, sadistic Cady that is far more engrossing.

No offense, Mitchum. His performance transcends every other aspect of a film that with any other actor could be considered mediocre, and makes it the Robert DeNiro show. He is the perceived antagonist targeting his former lawyer who discarded viable evidence that could have led to dismissal, and is dead set on making him pay his dues.

Cady is a stark villain that remains in the shadows and is always two steps ahead of his more sophisticated targets who dismiss his credibility upon the first glance of his tacky attire and boisterous presence.

This is to his advantage, and the entire movie revolves around Cady making his lawyer, played by a believable Nick Nolte, miserable by any means necessary. Certain scenes were wrought with tension, particularly one that takes place between DeNiro and Juliette Lewis.

Scorcese does a fine job walking the razor's edge, however, heigtening the intensity in nearly every scene involving the ripped, tatted DeNiro. This, a remake of a supposed classic, is a rare example of a stylistic reimagining that outshines its predecessor.

Definitely worth watching.