After Alice

This movie kept me on the edge of my seat... although after a certain point I knew who was doing what and so forth. I'm not a bad fan of Kiefer but he didn't do half bad in the movie. Whoever writes these type of movies deserve a pat on the back because they play with your mind just enough to where it is a look of surprise when you realize the plot unfolding into your lap. I'd gave it a thumbs up.

This is an oddly interesting film. Ostensibly it is about a detective who develops psychic powers that aid in the tracking down of the serial killer, Jabberwocky. A consideration of After Alice is not so seemingly, straight forward.

The plot itself is straight out Barnaby Jones. I had suspicions as to Jabberwocky's identity very early on and with all due respect to writer Jeff Miller, the final twist is something of a cliche. It's daytime television stuff and I sort of expected more from a Hollywood movie with a Hollywood budget.

Then there is the Alice in Wonderland motif. Jabberwocky and Alice in Wonderland are entirely separate works by Lewis Carol. The Queen of Hearts doesn't really connect with the Jabberwocky. One is a poem and the other a children's story. The Queen playing card turns up after each murder and the movie is littered with Lewis Carol inspired references but, and again, none of them really serve the narrative in any way at all.

Sutherland, an accomplished actor, made a single movie in 1999, this one. In 2000 he made four. His was a serviceable performance but I had hoped for more passion or commitment from him considering that this was the project for him at the time.

And then there is the psychic aspect. A fall triggers the awakening of psychic powers within Sutherland's character Mickey Hayden and suddenly there are credible experts in the field everywhere! They add an element of interest, as does the entire business of the psychic, but I can't help but think that good old Barnaby could have arrived at a conclusion without the hocus-pocus.

The psychic artifice does though provide an avenue for a romantic interest in the form of Polly Walker's character Dr Vera Swan but it is a relationship that doesn't go anywhere even though Sutherland is recovering from a broken marriage, is vulnerable and available.

I have no regrets in finding the 100 minutes to watch the movie but I won't be expending any energy finding space on the shelf for the DVD.

ALICE is the kind of movie they made in the 30's and 40's. Never attempts to be an "event". Just wants to entertain. And it does. I was surprised by Kiefer Sutherland. In a role that could be a cliche, he made it real. The plot does make allusions to ALICE IN WONDERLAND. A guy dressed in white does go through a hole and Kiefer does fall down one. Like ALICE the plot does twist and turn, but with a freshness you don't see in small movies. I loved the direction, Sutherland, just a very fast paced and interesting movie.

Somehow the movie has a great appealing on paranormal phenomena, a suject that catch the attention for many, however with so much empty blanks, out from nowhere the drunkard Detective Mickey Hayden (Kiefer Sutherland) starts getting psychic powers, having visions when he touchs some objects from the victims, totally inaccurate, whoever that has this specific powers it unfolds in tender age, never in a mature man, as exposes by Professor Harvey (Henry Czerny) in early lines who really has such gift, also Dr. Vera Swann (Polly Walker) who didn't has enough space in the confusing plot, not allowed us a bit of her usual sexual appealing, what a waste, actually the story is so unbelievable, so unreal that is funny, beyond of any fair explanation, others elements weren't duly addressed, then the movie stays lame, adrift, which can't hold up itself, Kiefer Sutherland exert oneself by a movie that is doomed to failure, the Killer Jabberwocky is a farce, the movie as well, at least it keeps you awake, extremely useful for sleepwalkers!!

Resume:

First watch: 2020 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 6

People watch movies for a variety of different reasons. This movie didn't have the big budget, there's no special effects, no car chases and there's no explosions. Actually reality doesn't have much of these either. At least not in my life.

This is a very real movie about very real people, none of them perfect in any way but together they are put into a situation where they learn to explore and accept what is different and that in turn makes order out of chaos. I am not prepared to limit the possibility of parapsychology, since I'm neither an expert nor use the full extent of my own brain.

So watch this movie for the characters. It is brim-full of a whole cast of wonderful quirky folk.

Within the first three minutes Kiefer Sutherland enacts Detective Michael Hayden's life superbly and he keeps developing the character throughout the movie. Excellent acting, very believable.

Henry Czerny could not have been cast better and the rapport between his 'Harvey' and Kiefer's 'Mickey' enhances the oppositeness of their characters.

I thoroughly enjoyed the cranky landlady, 'Mrs Ramsay', I'm sure she and my mother-in-law are good friends!!!

There's a host more of these wonderful characters but space is limited here so watch the movie and enjoy them.