O Observador

Joel Campbell (James Spader) and David Griffin (Keanu Reeves) are like binary stars that revolve around a common center of gravity. Each man needs the other for a sense of identity. They function as a single entity, even though their motives are in moral opposition. Actually, it's a rather tired film concept.

In Chicago, Campbell introduces the story premise about serial killer Griffin who preys on young women, and uses his killings as a game to be played out with Campbell, who has no choice but to participate. The film's structure relies on tons of flashbacks to Campbell's previous involvement with the killer in California.

The main problem here is that the film's plot depends on multiple film clichés. You've got your standard police chase scenes with flashing lights and screeching tires. You've got your standard melodramatic TV news, repeated over and over and over. You've got a killer who can miraculously overcome every obstacle thrown at him. The film's final twenty minutes are nothing but a string of cinematic clichés.

You get the feeling that the filmmakers used a tried-and-true money making film concept as a template, hurriedly wrote a script, then attached well-known box-office actors to rev up the financial bottom line, for quick megabucks. If that was their plan, I don't think it worked. For many viewers, including myself, the film comes across as stale, insipid, and uninspired.

The acting is not convincing. Both James Spader and Keanu Reeves sleepwalk through their roles, emotionally uninvolved. The casting of lovely Marisa Tomei as a psychiatrist is not credible, in a role meant for an older intellectual. But, of course, as a beautiful young woman, Tomei fits in nicely as a handy target for the killer. And the film's contemporary pumped up rock music I found irritating and distracting. The color cinematography is adequate, if conventional.

"The Watcher" is just one more cop and killer movie in a saturated genre. The film has nothing new or original to offer viewers. Maybe the two lead actors will be a tad more discerning next time when they select screenplay roles.

A thrilling and nail-biting movie that falls little by little , resulting to be more vapid, unexciting and pointless over and over . Retired FBI Special Agent Joel Campbell : James Spader, lives in Chicago, where he is struggling to come to terms with his failure to capture a serial killer back when he was working in Los Angeles . Campbell attends therapy sessions with Dr. Polly Beilman : Marisa Tomei , but otherwise has no other friends or social life. Then the serial killer , voyeuristic strangler Keanu Reeves following the burnt-out Spader to Chicago and resumes his grisly activities , as he believes that they have a vitalising Yin and Yang type relationship , so he starts sending Spader photos of his intented victims , 24 hours in advance . Along the way, Spader takes the bait , cleans up his act and discovers new meaning in his life . Leaves clues for burned-out FBI agent Spader as to who his next victim will be so Spader will get back in the game ! . Don't go home alone !. Someone wants to play !.

Based on on the regular premise about a serial killer , whose obsession is with their victims , as the serial murderer has resurrected sending him pictures of his next victim , also like to play cat and mouse games with the cop . It begins with a direct-to-video feel , adding a story cribbed from ordinary serial killer thrillers , throw in a bunch of glimmer visual effects and Keanu's hysterical line readings and you've got a night of talking back to the TV usual style . A predictable and unpleasant action movie in which the same situations are repeated over and over . It is ridiculous enough , but that's half the fun. So-so interpretations from Keanu Reeves overacting as a nasty series murderer , James Spader as the haunted ex-cop and Marisa Tomei as the lonely shrink who unwittingly offers psychoanalitic solace to both cop and killer .

Veteran cinematographer Michael Chapman gives unearned class to the environment , though providing a very dark and sinister atmosphere . While expert composer Marco Beltrani attempts to crank up the intrigue and suspense level . The motion picture was regular but professionally directed by Joe Charbanic , as he directs with penchant for MTV style flashbacks and shaky-cam murderer's eye shots merely induce headaches . Joe is a producer and director, known for Haunted Ship and Lost and Found and this his film debut : The watcher (2000). Rating : 4.5/10. Average , only for hardcore fans of the three great actors : Keanu Reeves , James Spader and Marisa Tomei.

Enjoyed this film.James Spader...love him. Can't go wrong with him or Marissa Tomei and also always enjoy Keanu Reeves

Having failed to catch a serial killer who finally murdered a woman he had been sleeping with, Joel Campbell moves cities and lives his life on benefits suffering from migraines, heavily medicated most of the time. This painful but quiet life is shattered when the killer follows him to the city and begins a game of cat and mouse with him - sending him a picture of a woman 24 hours before he kills her. Joel rejoins the police in an effort to save his potential victims as well as catching him.

I, like many others, wasn't too bothered by this film when it was released - it looked like it would be yet another serial killer movie, and it was! The plot requires the usual gimmick and here it is the old chestnut of the cop and bad guy needing each other and the killer having a sort of respect and need for his pursuer. None of the film will surprise you but it still moves forward reasonably quickly without being dull and it is reasonably enjoyable. The action scenes are not great and the film never really has a real air of menace or tension, but it is still slick enough to watch - even if it is almost impossible to be emotionally involved.

The director managed to get his timing right to get Reeves in the midst of a reasonable cast; he shot a few videos for Reeves' band years prior in exchange for Reeves doing this film which, despite hitting it big with The Matrix, was a promise he honoured. However as a director his music video roots are heavily showing here with far too many flashy visual tricks that stick out from the body of the film and actually take away more than they bring. However, getting Reeves was worth him having the chair for his star does surprisingly well to step out of his Neo role and into a mean, playful role. No, he's not doing anything different with it from anyone else who plays this type of serial killer role but he is still charismatic enough to make a difference. Spader is also pretty good and has more to work with than Reeves, but Tomsei is almost totally wasted with very little to do to justify such a well known actress. To be honest none of them have much to work with above the norm, but they still add to the film by their names.

Overall I did quite enjoy the film but I will be the first to admit that it was nothing new and really didn't do anything different or unusual with the basic premise and material. The director tries to liven it up a bit with the odd visual trick, but it only serves to make the film look a little desperate to be different. The end result is an average thriller that has a better than average cast (for this type of thing) and will pass the time without annoying you if you know what to expect.

I really wanted to like this movie. I really did. Some people don't like Keanu as an actor, but I love a lot of the movies he's done (Matrix, Street Kings, Speed, Bill & Ted, Constantine & Devil's Advocate off the top of my head). That being said, this movie could've been so much better if they had casted ANYONE ELSE as the villain. Keanu's acting style does not fit the role, and it ends up becoming a worm hole that sucks the movie down. Also, the end features a particularly horrible use of CGI (trust me, you'll know it when you see it) that would've been acceptable if it came out in the 80s or early 90s. But considering this came a few years after The Matrix, there's no excuse. I give it a 5/10 for the writing and good casting for 99% of the roles. In short, don't spend money on this one.