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Cuba Gooding Jr. has progressed quite a way
since his first major film role. Oh, he was lovable in "Jerry
Maguire", shouting "Show me da' money!" and eventually earning
not only money but also respect as a football player. Later,
he was entertaining as the gay boyfriend in "As Good as it Gets".
Now he's captivating, if not endearing, as an ambitious, idealistic
young shrink in "Instinct". (I'm willing to forgive and forget
his role in the downer "What Dreams May Come" - even good actors
make poor role choices. It's been stricken from the record.)
If all shrinks were as handsome and charming as Gooding, a lot
more people would seek psychiatric help. Prozac would be selling
by the pound! Gooding's character, Dr. Theo Caulder, is also
remarkably adept at talking people out of their neuroses' (or
psychoses', or whatever they call it). Yes, he has a promising
future as a head- shrinker.
And then he meets his most fascinating - and challenging - patient:
Dr. Ethan Powell (Anthony Hopkins), an anthropologist who evidently
went insane while living with gorillas in Africa. (In effect,
he killed dozens of people and remains violent, as well as silent.)
Brilliant head doctor Theo thinks he can help Powell (and further
his career in the process) so he talks his boss into letting
him tackle the case. Theo succeeds in getting the deliberately
mute Powell to speak - and even relate his entire past story.
I won't spoil the plot for you, but let's just say that animal-rights
fans should find themselves quite enamored of Powell by the
end of this film. And Powell isn't the only one who reaps a
therapeutic benefit from his sessions with Theo.
A subplot chronicles Powell's failed relationship with his family,
especially his embittered yet still loving daughter Lynn. Also
featured is a sub-subplot (did I just invent a word there?)
in which Theo seems mildly interested in Lynn as girlfriend
material.
I enjoyed "Instinct" much more than I anticipated. Gooding wasn't
the only worthwhile actor in this film, although he's probably
my favorite; I liked all the characters (and the actors who
shaped them). Even the violent attack scenes were exciting,
well- done, and well-called for (no unnecessary bloodbaths -
the violence lent credence to the film in this case). Perhaps
it was a bit too idealistic and message-oriented, but the plot
hardly suffered in spite of this flaw. I recommend "Instinct"
as a terrific thriller.
My rating: 3 stars
Rating : R (For some intense violent behavior)
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