2008 Woodie Awards
An eye for an eye
Jessica Alba plays corneal transplant patient gone awry in 'The Eye'
by Julie Vukovich
Issue date: 2/12/08
Section: Movies
In light of many recent remakes of Japanese and Chinese language films, "The Eye" is a true thriller that might have been worth remaking.
Jessica Alba plays Sydney Wells in "The Eye," a blind but brilliant concert violinist. Sydney wants to restore her sight, something that was taken from her after an accident involving firecrackers when she was younger. She successfully undergoes a corneal transplant surgery, but suddenly she starts seeing things that aren't there. When she looks in the mirror, she sees not herself but her donor, a fact she later discovers. Frightening visions of demon-like creatures that seem to be taking people away to the land of the dead soon appear. Sydney also starts dreaming things she's never seen before. Thinking it's a condition called cellular memory, (this is a real-life condition) where the recipient of a transplant displays characteristics of the donor, she turns to Dr. Paul Faulkner (Alessandro Nivola). He is a specialist who helps people adjust to the world after eye surgeries like hers. Though reluctant at first, he agrees to help Wells figure out what she is supposed to do about these visions.
Alba gives a surprisingly decent performance after many films where it would appear she had just been cast for her looks. It's not Oscar-winning acting, but she plays a believable Sydney Wells and her voice is pleasant for the narrative that occurs throughout the film. She's not too showy and not too dramatic. Nivola, who's a relative unknown, also does a solid job as Faulkner. He plays at the sympathy for Alba's character as well as the conflict between his job and his duty. Parker Posey plays Sydney's sister Helen, who blames herself for Sydney's blindness. While she and the rest of the supporting cast are relatively insignificant in "The Eye," they give a performance one would expect of a supporting cast.
The plot is terrific and keeps viewers guessing until the end what Sydney's purpose is. There is a plethora of those "jump out of your seat" thrills, but these moments aren't overdone. The movie isn't really a gross-out horror flick, but it has some very disturbing images and just enough scary parts to satisfy those who like a good thought-provoking thriller.
Some of the lines are not the greatest, however, and it becomes apparent the scriptwriter could have done better, especially in some of the scenes between Alba and Nivola. It's like they were trying to insert a love story there, but it doesn't work. They have chemistry, but the scenes that are supposed to be romantic come off as half-hearted.
The visuals are excellent, and many are enough to give anyone the creeps and the chills. The scenes flow well and are perfect for making the viewer go, "Oh, that's why that happened," or to have one of those light-bulb-going-off-in-the-head moments.
THE GRADE: B
Good for those looking to find mild but still scary thrills.
Julie Vukovich is a Reporter staff writer
Jessica Alba plays Sydney Wells in "The Eye," a blind but brilliant concert violinist. Sydney wants to restore her sight, something that was taken from her after an accident involving firecrackers when she was younger. She successfully undergoes a corneal transplant surgery, but suddenly she starts seeing things that aren't there. When she looks in the mirror, she sees not herself but her donor, a fact she later discovers. Frightening visions of demon-like creatures that seem to be taking people away to the land of the dead soon appear. Sydney also starts dreaming things she's never seen before. Thinking it's a condition called cellular memory, (this is a real-life condition) where the recipient of a transplant displays characteristics of the donor, she turns to Dr. Paul Faulkner (Alessandro Nivola). He is a specialist who helps people adjust to the world after eye surgeries like hers. Though reluctant at first, he agrees to help Wells figure out what she is supposed to do about these visions.
Alba gives a surprisingly decent performance after many films where it would appear she had just been cast for her looks. It's not Oscar-winning acting, but she plays a believable Sydney Wells and her voice is pleasant for the narrative that occurs throughout the film. She's not too showy and not too dramatic. Nivola, who's a relative unknown, also does a solid job as Faulkner. He plays at the sympathy for Alba's character as well as the conflict between his job and his duty. Parker Posey plays Sydney's sister Helen, who blames herself for Sydney's blindness. While she and the rest of the supporting cast are relatively insignificant in "The Eye," they give a performance one would expect of a supporting cast.
The plot is terrific and keeps viewers guessing until the end what Sydney's purpose is. There is a plethora of those "jump out of your seat" thrills, but these moments aren't overdone. The movie isn't really a gross-out horror flick, but it has some very disturbing images and just enough scary parts to satisfy those who like a good thought-provoking thriller.
Some of the lines are not the greatest, however, and it becomes apparent the scriptwriter could have done better, especially in some of the scenes between Alba and Nivola. It's like they were trying to insert a love story there, but it doesn't work. They have chemistry, but the scenes that are supposed to be romantic come off as half-hearted.
The visuals are excellent, and many are enough to give anyone the creeps and the chills. The scenes flow well and are perfect for making the viewer go, "Oh, that's why that happened," or to have one of those light-bulb-going-off-in-the-head moments.
THE GRADE: B
Good for those looking to find mild but still scary thrills.
Julie Vukovich is a Reporter staff writer
Be the first to comment on this story