Great Film overall

Fantastic!

As Good As It Gets

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Deliberately lurid, overwrought, and sleazy, Phil Joanou's "Final Analysis" plays best if you pretend it's a black and white psycho-sexual noir from the 1950s; the kind of pulpy B movie routinely rendered classy by guys like Fritz Lang or Alfred Hitchcock ("Rebecca", "Vertigo", "Notorious" etc).Joanou's no Hitchcock, of course, but his compositions are brilliant in the way they emphasize clean lines and geometric shapes, and the film's cinematography, by the legendary Jordan Cronenweth (Blade Runner), is also very special."Final Analysis'" plot is standard of the genre - Richard Gere plays a poor schmuck who may or may not be at the mercy of two sisters (Uma Thurman and Kim Basinger) who may or may not be femme fatales – but the film is aiming for familiarity. It then ends with a bad Hitchcockian cliffhanger, Gere literally hanging from the edge of a lighthouse. Surprisingly, the film's first half is rather restrained, played almost in whispers.7.9/10 – Classy trash, which should appeal to those craving a dose of Hitchcock. Worth one viewing.

I must say that I had high expectations about this movie because of solid cast and what it seemed interesting story in Hitchcock way. We've got ordinary man (Dr. Isaac Barr) who founds himself in strange situations and also blond female characters (both Heather and Diana). Also the end, the lighthouse, the fall of Heather Evans is a copy of Hitchcock style. I must say, after watching movie, that this is very bad movie. Beside Eric Roberts, who is always good as bad guy, all other actors are just acting it through (Gere was awful, Basinger funny when she tried to be bad and Thurman had nothing to act). Script was written on so stupid way that we've got numerous inversions but in a very predictable and dull way, so I waited finally to end. Very big disappointment for me and poor Hitchcock must be turning in his grave.

Richard Gere and Kim Basinger reunite from 1986's mediocre "No Mercy" for this outlandish, just-as-shallow would-be murder mystery. Occasionally enjoyable, fruity concoction concerns psychiatrist Gere becoming involved with two sexy sisters who are hoping to formulate the perfect murder plot. Lots of story twists, each one more preposterous than the last, but with a slick production and a fine climax atop a lighthouse. Gere looks a bit ill-at-ease, but Basinger and Uma Thurman are both very good. Eric Roberts is eliminated early (a plus), but Keith David flounders in the hopeless role of the detective on the sisters' trail. For viewers in the requisite silly spirit, not too bad. ** from ****

I don't really understand why this film has such a low rating. Most of the movie is very good. The story, the acting and the cinematography are very good. The story also has a lot of plot twists and the acting is very good. The screenplay is quite intelligent. Only the end is a bit less good, and that's a pity, because this could have been a masterpiece. The end is a bit stupid. Phil Joanou did a good job directing this film. It's a pity this film doesn't get a higher rating on IMDb. Richard Gere, Kim Basinger and Uma Thurman do a good job too. I recommend this film. It's not a masterpiece, but it's certainly not bad.