DIRECTOR: Gus Van Sant
MPAA RATING: R
RUNNING TIME: 106 Minutes
STUDIO: Universal
| Psycho (1998) |
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| CAST: Vince Vaughn, Anne Heche, Julianne Moore, William H. Macy
DIRECTOR: Gus Van Sant MPAA RATING: R RUNNING TIME: 106 Minutes STUDIO: Universal |
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If it ain't broke, don't fix it. That saying is used often in movies and it's used again for this film. This "shot for shot" update of the Hitchcock classic will probably only be enjoyed by those who haven't seen the original. Being a huge fan of the first, I kept finding myself comparing every tiny scene in this version to the old one. And the results aren't too good. First off, all the characters seem to be acting like robots instead of actors. Though the script isn't 100% the same as the first Psycho, the actors try their hardest to look, act, and pause the exact same way as the original cast. It doesn't work. William H. Macy, one of my favorite actors, looks just like a robot in his brief role. Anne Heche doesn't seem to care anything about her legendary character. Only Vince Vaughn halfway gives a decent performance and he has the toughest job to fill of all. If Anthony Perkins' performance in the original wasn't so darn good, maybe Vaughn's performance could be appreciated more.
In all, this is probably the first remake of a film that actually is a remake. Van Sant may have been better off changing the story after the classic shower scene, as once rumored. Speaking of the shower scene, this 90s update's version is 100% not scary at all. No suspense, just lots of blood. In fact, there are suspenseful moments. I say this because I've seen the original over 20 times. So, after all the talk and all the rumors, this update doesn't have anything special to offer except that it's in color. And I ask this question for director Gus Van Sant: Was an update really that necessary? |
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