Aug 28, 2002 10:41 PM
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(Updated Aug 28, 2002 10:42 PM)
“Dragon Fly” has an intellectual, remarkable, gripping & unpredictable script, which has a splendid originality. It is not a ghost or a horror movie, because it allows a human affection to saturate the performance, without sacrificing the prospective for horror. It has, in fact, many chilling & frightening situations, yet, Tom Shadyac (Director) prefers to describe the anguish, fear & the helplessness of a loving husband, in his own ingenious style. “Dragon Fly” will be appreciated by those audience who likes to deals with the spiritual angle & tries to say something about the connection between this world & the next one (Today's society has an undeniable fascination with supernatural/pseudo-religious issues)
Like I said earlier, “Dragon Fly” is not a horror flick. But it is replete with spiritual approach, superb script & yes, fantastic performance by all the actors. “Dragon Fly” is obviously an attempt by Kevin Costner to broaden his range. The actor, best known for action roles in films like “Robin Hood The Prince of Thieves” & “Water World” has effectively explored a few dramatic parts in the past, but this may be the first time he has intentionally attempted to essay a low-key persona. Kevin’s co-star is Susanna Thompson, who also played her part with great perfection.
The Cast:
Kevin Costner as Joe Darrow who works as a doctor
Susanna Thompson plays Emily, Joes wife.
Robert Bailey Jr is Jeffrey in the movie.
And some extras who acted as the villagers of the Yanamoni tribe.
The Story
The movie started out pretty intense with Susanna Thompson (Emily) character being killed in a freak road accident in Venezuela. Kevin Costner (Joe) stars as a workaholic doctor (his acting in this film is flawless & he has done full justice to his character). Soon after his wife’s death, Joe becomes a workaholic & in the process works to a such great extent that he becomes a compassionless doctor. One day while on duty, Joe hears some voice calling out his name. He looks everywhere for the person & in the end the person turns out to be Jeffery. The interesting part about this incident is that Jeffery is unconscious at that very time & he even encounters a near death experience. Next day when Joe goes to check Jeffery, he (Jeffery) tells Joe that his soul had met with Emily’s soul & that she wanted to tell something to him.
Joe experience this same incident with another patient named Ben. But this time Ben tells Joe that Emily wants Joe to go near a “Rainbow”. In the remaining part of the film Joe tries everything possible in the face of this earth to find a way towards this “Rainbow”. Some interesting things happen during the final half-hour of “Dragon Fly”, including a clever (although entirely predictable) twist at the very end. The film ends up with an unexpected hair-raising twist, which will make the audience to reconsider everything that has come first, in an entirely different perspective.
Though, the true star’s of the film are director Tom Shadyac & Kevin Costner; the rest of the cast fill out the plot satisfactorily. If you like psychosomatic movies don’t miss this one – they don’t make many good ones and this is one of the best.
Conclusion:
’’Dragon Fly’’ deals with real human issues such as, searching inner peace, truth seeking & determination to achieve something in life. It’s a powerful film with some good performance by Kevin Costner & co. Director Tom Shadyac did a fantastic job & to say his direction in this film is only extraordinary is to say that Mount Everest is just a bit tall. I’m sure everyone who is fasinated by supernatural phenomenon will love this film. And if you have not seen “Dragon Fly” till now then you definitely have missed something in life.
