(rated R, 105 mins.)
Opens March 24th
With a big bang’em up high profile premiere at this year’s Sundance, USA Films brings what they feel is destined to be a “cult film” executive produced by Jodie Foster’s Egg Pictures company. No, she doesn’t star, but instead it stars Billy Crudup as Fielding Pierce in this year’s version of the little boy in “Sixth Sense” (for grown-ups), who sees dead people because in this twist, he loves so much, their love can conquer all. Including the life hereafter. Adapted from Scott Spencer’s very thick novel is the condensed two hours or less version of a congressional candidate who questions his sanity seeing the love of his life, presumed dead, suddenly emerging. Through flashback (and forth) form, similar to his 1996 “Mother Night”, director/writer Keith Gordon tells a tale rich in emotion, love and politics and how they all intermingle. Sarah Williams (Jennifer Connelly) is the love interest and of course it’s a Shakespearean-esque rocky road for the love at first sight couple. When Sarah is killed by a car bomb (she is a politically too-outspoken activist), their perfect destiny is rocked. The chemistry between the two is intense, believable and rightly so to pull off a plot line of love so deep Pierce believes she’s returned from the dead. Janet McTeer who was so brilliant and nominated for an Oscar in “Tumbleweeds” this time portrays a smaller role as the lead’s sister, Caroline Pierce.