Review of The Gift (2000) by Michael Y — 19 Oct 2010

One of The Michael's favourite directors, Sam Raimi, directs this supernatual thriller which secretly has a lot of heart.

Including an all star cast, The Gift stars Cate Blanchett as Annie, a widowed mother who is the psychic in a small southern town. She is not looked kindly on by some folks, but she now is asked for help by the authorities when the town's whore cannot be found. Written by the one and only Billy Bob Thornton, this movie is a bit more heartfelt than one would expect. The story of a mother and her rejected feelings for her lost husband in order to try to be a strong mother is quite touching, as well as her connection to the very desturbed Buddy who's only friend is Annie. It's this kind of storytelling that's just great to watch.

Sam Raimi does a great job at presenting the mind of our psychic character, details and forseen images getting mixed up, details and sences are exagerated. Raimi does a very fine job at directing this movie. He presents the small southern town and the living conditions of the characters very naturally. And of coarse he adds his own creative sence of horror and suspence to keep this thriller nice and intriguing.

A nice story with some nice acting, (It's quite impressive how someone so English can do a southern accent as naturally) The Gift is a little surprising feel good movie that I personally enjoy very much, and I recommend it if you want a taste of something a little different.