Mindhunters
Directed by Renny Harlin

By Mike Adair

It's Friday the 13th, time to bring out a marginally exciting thriller! Originally scheduled for an early 2004 release, marketing and staffing issues prevented Mindhunters from making it into distribution until now. Actually, the concept behind this film is slightly intriguing: take a group of FBI agents learning how to profile serial killers, bring them to an island-based training facility and maroon them with a psychopath. Good times for all.

Renny Harlin, director of cinematic gems such as A Nightmare on Elm Street Four: The Dream Master, has created a movie with a great sense of timing, and the moments of suspense will make you jump. Unlike typical slasher films, there is a minimal amount of gore in the film, which is good because when the CGI is in full effect, it is of very poor quality, with an emphasis on very poor quality.

Since identity is a key theme of the film, the cardboard cut-out character development is quite unfortunate. While adding a few high profile actors to the credits may help distract from this lack of innovation, the casting is poorly done. Val Kilmer, for example, is too young for his role as the jaded company man who has seen it all. Likewise, it is difficult to take Christian Slater seriously as an up and coming young agent. Conversely, LL Cool J (credited as James Todd Smith) actually does a good job of playing the mysterious eighth wheel of the group.

Despite all its flaws, including a disappointing ending that is less “I never would have guessed that in a million years” and more “meh,” as far as whodunit?/serial killer flicks go, this is an enjoyable release. It is just more of a “Saturday afternoon at home” rather than “Friday night at the theatre” film. (Alliance Atlantis)

Kung Fu Hustle - Dir. by Stephen Chow
How much longer can North America ignore Stephen Chow? His amazing Shaolin Soccer became the highest grossing Hong Kong-made film and was completely mishandled by Americans. Kung Fu Hustle is even better and has already surpassed his previous film’s box office record. Is this the film that will make the rest of the world take notice? ...Read More
3-Iron - Dir. by Kim Ki-duk
Campfire - Dir. by Joseph Cedar
Crash - Dir. by Paul Haggis
House of D - Dir. by David Duchovny
House of Wax - Dir. by Jaume Serra
Jiminy Glick In Lalawood - Dir. by Vadim Jean
Kingdom of Heaven - Dir. by Ridley Scott
Madagascar - Dir. by Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath
Monster-In-Law - Dir. by Robert Luketic
Palindromes - Dir. by Todd Solondz
Palindromes - Dir. by Todd Solondz
Sabah - Dir. by Ruba Nadda
Social Genocide - Dir. by Fernando E. Solanas
The Longest Yard - Dir. by Peter Segal
The Year Of The Yao - Dir. by Adam Del Deo and James D. Stern
One of this city’s superstar DJs, Misstress Barbara specializes in big beats for the masses, and with her three-piece band Girls on a Ducati, she’s extending her house pop chops to a more traditional live setting. With a guitar and mic, as well as keys and effects, she’s a capable front-woman but he... Full Review
The deliberately lo-fi, yet earnest, split between Transit and Man Overboard sounds like the product of a bunch of friends growing up on punk and hardcore throughout the '90s. The hardcore leanings of Boston fivesome Transit lay the groundwork for the pop punk tendencies of the Jersey kids in Man Ov... Full Review
The term "videogame music" is often intended as an insult, deriding electronic beatscapes as rudimentary by comparing them to the 8-bit by necessity, bleep-based soundtracks of early Atari and Nintendo games. (See: Castles, Crystal) That Super Mario's theme music remains embedded in the frontal lobes of anyone under the age of 40 proves the critical weakness of the diss ― but it's also hopelessly archaic considering how much videogame music has evolved over the years.... Read More
Social Networking
• Be our friend on MySpace
• Be our fan on Facebook
Tweet us on twitter
Viewing the May 2005 Issue: Contents PageNewsClick Hear • Articles --> On the Cover  •  Front Five  •  Points  •  Comics  •  Point of View  •  Questionnaire  •  Timeline • Music Reviews --> Recently Reviewed  •  Aggressive Tendencies  •  Beats & Rhymes  •  Destination Out  •  Frequencies  •  Groove  •  Pop Rocks  •  Wood, Wires & Whiskey  •  Concert Reviews  •  SXSW Reviews • Motion Reviews --> Recently Reviewed  •  Dvd Reviews  •  Film Reviews  •  Music DVD Reviews • Music School --> Label Life  •  Meet & Greet  •  Need to Know  •  Where I play Contests • Contact --> About Us  • Advertising  • Distribution  • Getting Reviewed  • Getting Published  • Letters To The Editor  • Partnerships  • Subscriptions • Exclaim! Radio --> Aggressive Tendencies Radio  • Beats & Rhymes Radio  • Frequencies Radio  • Destination Out Radio  • Groove Radio  • No Future Radio  • Pop Rocks Radio  • Wood, Wires & Whiskey Radio Exclaim! TV • Home & Latest Issue Browse Issues