Review of Cape Fear (1991) by Hugo S — 30 Aug 2009

CAPE FEAR (1991).

Dir. Martin Scorsese.

Cast. Robert DeNiro, Nick Nolte, Jessica LangeMartin Scorsese's remake of J. Lee Thompson's Cape Fear is his first attempt at a more commercial picture and a less personal one. The final result is a mixed bag. Everything is to be admired, and coming from another director it would be considered a solid effort, but from Scorsese, its a little disappointment, because he is better than that.If you ever listened to Scorsese in an interview its quite obvious the director is a speaking movie encyclopedia, he knows cinema, from the darkest little picture you have never heard of to the biggest one. For him, Cape Fear was just an exercise in style. Its an extremely effective thriller that pays tribute to the movies of the genre from the 50's and the 60's with its camera work, its lighting and its tone. Its over-the-top but always take the right path, plus its extremely well-acted.Robert DeNiro is extremely strong as the ex-con with a Southern accent, who comes out of jail and stalk the lawyer, who he believes, with reasons, didnt defend him well, and his family. Nick Nolte is the lawyer, a man with probably too much pride to admit his flaws. Jessica Lange plays his wife, and Juliette Lewis his daughter. All characters are complex, flawed and layered, which makes Cape Fear more than the usual thriller, it becomes a character study, an excuse to explore their obsessions.The opening credits by Saul Bass, who used to work with Alfred Hitchcock, are simply amazing, as usual. The score is perfectly creepy, the cinematography, the camera work and the editing is perfect, serving the style and Mr. Scorsese's ambitions to make this film what it became. Cape Fear is intense, filled with memorable performances and scenes. The only thing that might harm the film with time, is the episode of The Simpsons that parodies it, and that have aired way too many times.