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Movie: Hide and Seek
Director: John Polson
Actors: Robert De Niro, Dakota Fanning, Famke Janssen, Elisabeth Shue, Amy Irving
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Robert De Niro returns to a serious role after his recent comedies and animated feature (Shark Tale). De Niro portrays in Hide and Seek the role of widower David Callaway. His wife committed suicide. David moves with his daughter Emily (Dakota Fanning) to an old house in the woods to start a new life. Emily doesn't communicate with her father anymore but finds support with her doctor Katherine (Famke Janssen) and… imaginary friend Charlie. Emily's games with Charlie are getting pretty weird and David wonders if Charlie could be real.
The last reel of Hide and Seek got shipped to theatres on the day of release so the ending of the film wouldn't be revealed. There also seems to be another version of the film with another ending. I'm not sure if this version is also available here in Holland but I can tell you that the hype surrounding this film didn't work for me.
Dakota Fanning, who did a great job in Man on Fire, and Robert De Niro deliver great performances. Fellow 'Dutchman' Famke Janssen and Elizabeth Shue (as David's love-interest) also doing fine in smaller supporting roles. Of course, great acting is not enough to make the film successful. Hide and Seek makes a forced impression. The film tries too hard to be one of those suspenseful supernatural thrillers with a surprising plot twist. Director John Polson, who previously delivered the mediocre Swimfan, fails to make Hide and Seek suspenseful resulting in a bizarre ending that doesn't work at all. We've seen these bizarre twists before in other and much better thrillers. I doubt it of another ending could make Hide and Seek a better film.
Written by Reggy 15/03/05
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