windsong-3

After reading the film jacket one would expect a high powered thriller with lots of suspense. What you get is a dreamy opium screenplay with lots of potential but unrealized payback. We stay detached from the characters, which unfortunately highlights the flaws in the acting and screenplay. Sean Penn is a good choice for the sexually confused antagonist, but Robert Vaughn doesn't put much effort into his part. Most of the problem is no doubt the script. The story has plenty of twists, but the script doesn't capitalize on it's potential. Because of this, holes develop in it's plausibility that leave one wondering who would believe it. Perhaps it was meant to be just a bad dream, but I had to give it 5 points for it's ambiance, which was mesmerizing and enticing.

At times it was a struggle to watch. When decisions are made that you can predict are flawed, it is painful to watch the consequences. The acting is quite good; very believable. Hank, (Bill Paxton) at first, appears to be the only voice of reason in a sea of stupor, but he eventually too dissolves into the blur of stupidity that has infected the characters until no protagonist survives. The ending is ironic, at best, but the only one possible under the circumstances.