I'm not sure why this film only gets around a "6" rating. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and am giving it a "7".
First of all, it has a mostly excellent cast. Hugh Grant is excellent as the young doctor who gets caught up in a conspiracy to use homeless people for experimental unneeded surgery. At first I was bothered by how very young Grant looked; it didn't seem a doctor so young could be advancing so quickly in the field of medicine. However, when you actually look at his real age when the movie was made, it did work.
Gene Hackman -- an actor I never really wanted to like -- is as good as he almost always was, this time playing the disturbingly reassuring evil doctor.
The one real let down here is Sarah Jessica Parker as a physician who is helping Hackman (due to her brother's spinal injury). I simply do not see the attraction to this ridiculously passive actress.
David Morse turns in a strong performance as an FBI Agent also aligned with Hackman, as does Bill Nunn as a similarly aligned police detective.
As to the story itself, which takes place in New York City (and uses locations scenes to the film's advantage), it's sorta scary when you think about how medical researchers could misuse their public trust if they get too wrapped up in the cures on which they are working. In this case, it's spinal injuries. The suspense is very real -- and StephenKing-ish -- when Grant descends into the bowels of New York City to find the people who live underground. And then there's a dramatic twist when our good guy becomes paralyzed himself...or does he...and if he is paralyzed, how can be the hero at the film's conclusion? Nope, I disagree with the general consensus. I think this is a very good suspense film and quite believable...at least as much as almost any film.
First of all, it has a mostly excellent cast. Hugh Grant is excellent as the young doctor who gets caught up in a conspiracy to use homeless people for experimental unneeded surgery. At first I was bothered by how very young Grant looked; it didn't seem a doctor so young could be advancing so quickly in the field of medicine. However, when you actually look at his real age when the movie was made, it did work.
Gene Hackman -- an actor I never really wanted to like -- is as good as he almost always was, this time playing the disturbingly reassuring evil doctor.
The one real let down here is Sarah Jessica Parker as a physician who is helping Hackman (due to her brother's spinal injury). I simply do not see the attraction to this ridiculously passive actress.
David Morse turns in a strong performance as an FBI Agent also aligned with Hackman, as does Bill Nunn as a similarly aligned police detective.
As to the story itself, which takes place in New York City (and uses locations scenes to the film's advantage), it's sorta scary when you think about how medical researchers could misuse their public trust if they get too wrapped up in the cures on which they are working. In this case, it's spinal injuries. The suspense is very real -- and StephenKing-ish -- when Grant descends into the bowels of New York City to find the people who live underground. And then there's a dramatic twist when our good guy becomes paralyzed himself...or does he...and if he is paralyzed, how can be the hero at the film's conclusion? Nope, I disagree with the general consensus. I think this is a very good suspense film and quite believable...at least as much as almost any film.