Starring: Kevin Spacey, Jeff Bridges, Mary McCormack, Alfre Woodard
Directed by: Iain Softley

Continuing with tradition, Kevin Spacey stars in a good movie. It seems whatever he touches becomes good. With a lesser actor in the role of Prot, the man who thinks he's from the planet K-Pax, this movie could have been just another pedestrian drama. But in the able hands of Spacey, the movie is simply...better.

Spacey's character is discovered in a train station, believing he is from another planet, one that is peaceful (hence the 'pax' in K-Pax). He is taken to a mental hospital where Dr.Mark Powell (Bridges) takes a personal interest in the case of who Prot actually is. What trauma caused this man to believe he is an alien? Is he an alien? How did he know have all sorts of astronomical expertise? How did he know all these complex math formulas? Powell invests so much time in the mystery that his personal life begins to suffer. His marriage is falling apart. The Prot mystery becomes more interesting when Prot states the date of his departure. Prot does have a positive effect on the other patients at the hospital, but the good doctor is concerned that Prot is giving them false hope. Then comes the open ending. Was Prot really an alien? Was he just a guy? Or was he a guy temporarily possessed by an alien? Who knows, but the movie is pretty good.

The acting is good, with the ever dependable Spacey and Bridges doing a good job, too. If anyone else were in the role of Prot, I might have given the movie a ten. However, Spacey bumps it up to Jack. It could have received higher, except that I found the whole hypnotism bit a little hokey. So there you have it. K-Pax is a solid drama that will have you feeling good all over.

DroopyMcC
Jack

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