Review of Eye of the Beholder (1999) by Stuart K — 16 Jan 2012
Based upon a 1980 novel by screenwriter Marc Behm (Charade (1963) and Help! (1965)), and brought to the screen by Stephen Elliot (The Adventures of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert (1994)), this is a weird and confusing spy thriller.
It does try to be original, but it doesn't try hard enough. It's cold and complex, and lacks a heart. This follows private eye Stephen Wilson (Ewan McGregor) who works as a private eye for a mysterious secret agency, taking clandestine photos on sniper rifles.
He reports to his superior Hilary (k.d. lang). He is currently investigating Joanna Iris (Ashley Judd), who Stephen witnesses killing Paul Hugo (Steven McCarthy), the son of the rich and influential Mr.
Hugo (Vlasta Vrana). Stephen ends up following Joanna across the United States and Canada, and she leaves a body count in every city she visits. Stephen even goes as far as protecting Joanna from hitmen on her tail, even though he's being haunted by visions of his estranged daughter Lucy (Kaitlin and Anne-Marie Brown), but he learns the truth about Joanna from Dr.
Jeanne Brault (Geneviève Bujold), which sheds light on why Joanna is that way. It should have been a good spy thriller, but it's muddled and confused, despite good performances from McGregor and Judd.
Despite bad reviews, it got to #1 in America, it's hard to see how, as it would have confused them as well.
This review of Eye of the Beholder (1999) was written by Stuart K on 16 Jan 2012.
Eye of the Beholder has generally received negative reviews.
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