TITANIC

RATING:


By Shawn McKenna
Date Reviewed: 8/09/99

Titantic is a beautiful movie with no soul. I am quite surprised that it had the commercial and critical success it did. I was even more shocked when it won the best picture. Of course, it is not as if the Academy has ever had good judgement i.e. not ever giving Sellers, Hitchcock, or Grant an award. Titanic came out at the perfect time (late in the year 1997) and was the "buzz" amongst the judges. It would even have the highest gross amongst films. Gone with the Wind still sold more tickets though. James Cameron would even say that this was the best film ever made. Then why am I so adamant that this is a mediocre film?

The major fault of this movie comes in the writing. The dialogue is atrocious. I winced during every monosyllabic uttering that Leonardo made. His acting was insipid too. He had such promise in early films, What's eating Gilbert Grape? , but he later would show no range and fake intensity.

The characters are one-dimensional: the rich heroine, the poor underdog hero, and the antagonistic rich boyfriend who does not understand the needs of his girlfriend. Does this sound familiar? The plot is excruciating familiar. The poor underdog shows the rich girl how to have a good time, they fall in love, and all while the rich bad guy is trying to break them apart. Throw in an iceberg and you have a movie.

The best scenes come after the iceberg has struck. The actors do behave convincingly. There is a sense of dread and a rush for many to get to the top of the ship. The movie is historically accurate -- including that there were not enough lifeboats. This movie is analogous to Michael Crichton's writings, and movies, where the characters are caricatures and more time is spent researching the scientific and historical aspects.

The movie is very attentive to detail though. So much money and research went into this film. The direction is good and the special effects are amazing. Titantic has many similar characteristics to Waterworld. It is exciting when the focus is on the action instead of the actors. I just wish they spent some money on characters and a better plot. I doth protest to much. This film is still a mediocre and sometimes good film. It just saddens me to see people proclaiming this to be a great film when it is not. Ran is a great film. This is OK.

Titanic (1997)
Jack Dawson: Leonardo DiCaprio
Rose DeWitt Bukater: Kate Winslet
Cal Hockley: Billy Zane
Molly Brown: Kathy Bates
Brock Lovett: Bill Paxton

Director: James Cameron


Running Time: 194m.
Rated: PG-13
Genre: Drama/Disaster/Romance
Country: USA


Other Critics:

Roger Ebert
Leonard Maltin ½