Sadly Over-hyped

How sad is this?

A Masterpiece!

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

This is one of my favorite movies of all time. It's surreal, unreal, strange and in that way everything is free and makes total sense. I loved it, everything about it.

Part thriller, part detective, a bit of horror mark this well photographed, well acted, but ultimately not quite successful film. It is too long and seems as if the makers couldn't decide how to end it. Works best for the viewer if he/she doesn't try to figure out every aspect. Interesting attempt, but starts to lose the viewer with repetitive murder followed by following the murderess/love object. Best part is her meeting the blind man she was to marry. Sympathetic aspect of a movie pretty cold despite the would be psychological explanations for behavior of murderess and her tracker.

As you already know, that's the second adaptation from the Marc Behm's novel. The first one was the Claude Miller's feature, starring Michel Serrault and Isabelle Adjani. I have not watched the French movie since a while now, but this one is very close to the novel, although, not as close as it should have been. I mean, many scenes from the book are unfortunately not shown here. Very important sequences. But I admit that this book's atmosphere was rather complex to film, and the director did a fine job in that field, better than the Miller's movie, as far as I remember. And many details provided by the novel were not put here, I understand why actually. But take for instance the short scenes in the book, when the lead female assassin meet two guys who throw her off. One talks to her about his dead child, and she decides to spare him, not to kill him as she did with the others. Very important moment, for me, at least. And the other sequence, where she is attracted by a dude in a bar and the guy suddenly stands up and tells her he will be back in a few seconds, because he walks away to talk to another woman. And the guy in question never came back to our lead. The author Marc Bahm, said that "SHE" realized that a page of her life was over. Very important link that that the film, at least this one - the French movie, I don't remember - did not show. So, I think that this outstanding story should have been supported by a three hours movie, or a mini series. Just to be faithful to the story.

Good-looking Ewan McGregor (as Stephen "The Eye" Wilson) is a secret agent man assigned to stalk wigged-out Ashley Judd (as Joanna Eris). Merrily posing through several stages of undress, Ms. Judd is a sexy serial killer. Mr. McGregor keeps his clothes on, but matches his prey in the emotionally disturbed department, as it turns out.Stephan Elliott's "Eye of the Beholder" is long on style, and short on substance; unfortunately, its meandering story is difficult to follow. Still, whatever director Elliott, McGregor, and Judd are doing, they often make it look good. Cinematographer Guy Dufaux excels. The film is reminiscent of director Alfred Hitchcock, especially his "Rear Window" and "Vertigo". The supporting cast includes Patrick Bergin, veteran Geneviève Bujold, and a non-singing k.d. lang. But, Jason Priestley (as Gary) gets the best part, and turns it into the film's strongest individual performance. Mr. Priestley is startlingly convincing as a bleached blond junkie on the make. Priestley is better with Judd and McGregor than they are with each other; and, his characterization is the film's best representation of its obvious amoral intentions.***** Eye of the Beholder (1999) Stephan Elliott ~ Ewan McGregor, Ashley Judd, Jason Priestly