CAPE FEAR

The opening credits sequence of this film, a remake of the 1962 original, is terrific, combining the visual design of Saul and Elaine Bass with the music of Bernard Herrmann.

Hitchcock masterpieces such as 'Vertigo' and 'Psycho' used the same collaborators, but sadly Scorsese is no Hitchcock, and for me the film goes downhill once the action begins.

One has to question how committed to this remake Scorsese was, given that he only did it so that the studio would back the film he really wanted to make, 'The Last Temptation of Christ'.

The basic plot is that Max (played by De Niro), is recently out of prison and seeking revenge on his lawyer, Sam, (a surprisingly svelte Nick Nolte) who failed to defend him properly.  Also in Cady's sights are Sam's wife (Jessica Lange) and teenage daughter.  Max is a violent rapist, so it's pretty obvious what form of revenge he has in mind.

Apparently Scorsese liked the idea of making the family dysfunctional, so Sam has a history of being unfaithful, which has corroded the marriage.

I can see why this idea might appeal to Scorsese, because of the dramatic opportunities created.  Unfortunately it makes the family unlikeable, so that I didn't enjoy the scenes revolving around them, especially given that Nolte is not an actor I warm to.  I even found Lange irritating, and she is an actor who I can normally watch happily.  

With no character to like, and a lot of violence, this just became a nasty little film.  It can't even be saved by the climactic scenes, aboard a house boat during a thunderstorm.  They are nowhere as exciting or as suspenseful as they need to be given my lack of emotional connection to the family by this stage. 

RATING: x Find Something Better To Do