Review of Frantic (1988) by Jukka H — 23 Jan 2011

Grossly underrated film that's easily one of my favorite Polanski offerings. Reading people's comments and seeing its unflattering rating suggests that most people just don't get it. Maybe its Ford's involvement that lures people into approaching it from the wrong perspective and missing the point. Which is unfortunate because its his unavoidably american feel mixing into a european setting, style, and message that gives this a lot of its effectiveness. Ford is the perfect fit for this movie because he's absolutely not the type of guy you'd typically cast for this type of thing. Its too euro, too deep, too seedy. Its too interested in the power and legitimacy of emotions and truths that most American filmgoers are more comfortable not embracing and probably won't even consider or notice while watching it.

I love it. It's about so much, while pretending to be about something else entirely. It's also a fine fix for your Hitchcock nostalgia, being the closest big ticket homage the oft-similar Polanski has done.

Perfect for anyone looking for a slow burn that requires you to make a lot of connections from the tiniest allusions. Hugely wrong for those looking to see Harrison Ford run around trying to save his family. For that fix, please see; the rest of Ford's career.