Copycat: A Vida Imita a Morte

It's a nice and refreshing departure to see two strong female characters interacting in a thriller like this. Weaver and Hunter are both terrific in their respective roles. I have always liked the "annoying victim" device in movies, especially here, because it really brings out the inner workings behind each cop that works with her. Rarely do films like this give you such three-dimensional characters.

I also liked the outrageousness of the serial killer. Most serial killers want to be caught, they want to be put on display for their own brilliance and they want to meet the person who finally figured it out. Just like Connick's Darryl, who wants nothing more than to out-maneuver Weaver, the woman who out-maneuvered him, for the simple joy of ego gratification.

I didn't like, and was disappointed by, all of the dumb little computer tricks that the killer used to taunt Weaver and the police. It seemed like it was done just to introduce the element of electronic media so it appeared to be a "modern" story. I was also very put off and confused by the use of the Police song "Murder by Numbers" as a piece of evidence. Weaver attempts to psychoanalyze it as if the killer wrote the song. It's ludicrous even if the killer uses the song as an anthem. This was an extremely unwieldy section of the movie and does not make for good viewing, whether or not you're familiar with the song. But these are only small points in a good movie overall.

Derivative serial killer thriller in which a murderer sends a message to his chasers, a line from a song by The Police, promising turn a killing into art. Here Sigourney Weaver is a psychologist who suffers agarophobia , mortally afraid to venture out of her apartament and she mutters : "Very witty, this guy. He wants to dazzle us". Holly Hunter and Dermot Mulroney are two cops who pursue mercilessly the ominous, implacable murderer and being advised by another killer, crooner Harry Connick Jr, in prison to hunt him, while imitating famous murders. As the main killer copies known murders of the past, cut by cut, corpse by corpse. Eventually, protagonists coming a face to face with the heinous enemy until a silly and predictable finale.

This thriling film contains grisly killings, some very clever shocks, exploitation, and lots of scary creepings in the dark. The simple plot ,peculiarly tasteless , delivers an opportunist concept, though being subsequently more and more complex, when the nasty serial killer attempts to reproduce the murders of others notorious serial killers as Ted Bundy, Sam's son, Dahmer, Jack the Ripper and Murders by Numbers. There are various flashes of interest between the intriguingly matched stars. The screenwriters carry out to replicate even the feminist structure from Silence Of The Lambs with Holly Hunter and Sigourney Weaver splintering the Clarice Starling/Jodie Foster character. And while consulting convicted psycho Harry Connick at inside prison , how the another killer proceeds to murder. SIgourney Weaver plays a boozing, agarophobic psychologist suffering the effects of an attack by a terrible sicko, being almost hanged drawn and quartered. Weaver gives sometimes overacting, eventually grabs our deep attention along the way. Harry Connick as a Southern psychopath stuck on murder who is convict in prison while advising the police in hunting for another serial murderer who imitates him, he offers the movie's best portratal by a country mile. Will Patton is the obstinate cop, Hunter's ex-lover, unreasonably jealous of the unfortunate cop well played by Delmot Mulroney. And finally William McNamara who provides an extremely nasty madman role, though annoying, as the crowded serial killer and psychopath, a Hannibal Lecter lookalike.

It delivers a frightening and suspenseful soundtrack by the musician Christopher Young, a real expert in creating dark and sinister atmosphere. As well as an evocative and adequate cinematography by prestigious Lazslo Kovacs. This particularly nasty motion picture was well directed by Jon Amiel who keeps the tension high and his camera dwells lingeringly on sadistic details. He has made acceptable movies as Queen of hearts, Tune in tomorrow, Sommersby, The man who Knew too little, Entrapment, The Core. Rating 6.5/10. Decent thriller. Well worth watching for Sigourney Weaver and Holly Hunter fans .

A serial killer is claiming victims in the style of other killers from the recent past, homicide detective (Holly Hunter) needs the help of a noted criminal psychologist (Sigourney Weaver) if she is going to catch this killer. The trouble is she is an agoraphobic recluse haunted by her memories.

The characters build nicely as the story moves along at a steady pace, Weaver and Hunter both capture their characters very well and they are supported convincingly by Dermot Mulroney, William McNamara, Harry Connick Jnr. and Will Patton.

Copycat is full of suspense and intrigue, and it is a really solid film in every respect; it doesn't have the style or the punch of films like Seven and Silence of the Lambs, but it is definitely well worth watching.

7/10

The serial killer genre is one that became popular after "Silence of the Lambs," and since then the only ones that have really stuck out are "Se7en," "Copycat" and "Saw." "Copycat" is about a psychologist who lectures students on serial killers, and one day finds herself to be a victim at one of her speeches. Attacked in the bathroom, she narrowly escapes death and becomes a social recluse in the years that follow -- living through the Internet, anonymously chatting on Internet chat rooms and so on and so forth.

Until the terror begins again, this time involving not only the ex-pschologist (Sigourney Weaver) but also a cop played by Holly Hunter.

"Copycat" was much better than I thought it would be. I originally saw it on TBS years ago; I remember the ads claiming it would be on, but for some reason the rights fell through and it didn't air for another month or so... through this time period I hadn't heard anything about the film, but within the very first few minutes I instantly knew it was going to be much better than the standard "Silence" rip-off.

I may be alone here (and trust me, I know it) but I enjoy this more than "Silence of the Lambs," which kind of bores me at times. "Copycat" is dark and unexpectedly intelligent -- it is also perfectly cast. Weaver is fine (if unexceptional) whereas Hunter's macho-female traits are put into play perfectly by her casting as a cop.

The killer in the movie is played by Harry Connick Jr., and even he does a good job, which is saying quite a lot.

The movie has unexpected twists and is very clever in its own right. It is undoubtedly influenced (heavily) by "Silence of the Lambs" but is successful in the way it adds its own qualities to the mix -- much like "Se7en" this is a serial killer movie cashing in on the success of "Silence," but not necessarily stealing its content.

Very surprised. Catch it if you can.

I watched this movie for the first time yesterday and I've never enjoyed a movie this much in a long time. Weaver and Hunter have fantastic chemistry as the two leads and the film keeps you guessing until the very end. Some parts are a little far-fetched but that's what makes the film so much fun. Highly recommended!