Contents



Imagine The Face Of Terror Is The One You Love

1999




The Astronaut's Wife (1999)  

Directed by 
Rand Ravich    
  
Writing credits 
Rand Ravich    
  
Cast (in credits order) 
Johnny Depp ....  Spencer Armacost  
Charlize Theron ....  Jillian Armacost  
Joe Morton ....  Sherman Reese  
Clea DuVall ....  Nan  
Donna Murphy ....  Natalie Streck  
Nick Cassavetes ....  Alex Streck  
Samantha Eggar ....  Doctor  
Gary Grubbs ....  NASA Director  
Blair Brown ....  Shelly McLaren  
Tom Noonan ....  Jackson McLaren  
Dawn Landon ....  Nurse  
Tom O'Brien (II) ....  Allen Dodge  
Lucy Lin ....  Shelly Carter  
Michael Crider ....  Pat Elliott  
Jacob Stein ....  Calvin  
Timothy Wicker ....  Wide Eyed Kid #1  
Brian Johnson (IV) ....  Excited Fourth Grader  
Sarah Dampf ....  Paula  
Charles Lanyer ....  Spencer's Doctor  
Carlos Cervantes (I) ....  Doctor  
Conrad Bachmann ....  Reporter  
Rondi Reed ....  Dr. Conlin  
Seth Barrish ....  Yuppie Shark  
Ellen Lancaster ....  Dried Up Socialite  
Julian Barnes (I) ....  Waiter  
Priscilla Shanks ....  Woman  
Jennifer Burry ....  Second Woman  
Susan Cella ....  Third Woman  
Linda Powell ....  Fourth Woman  
Lyndsey Danielle Bonomolo ....  Screaming Girl  
Elston Ridgle ....  Security Guard  
Robert Sella ....  Maitre D'  
Samantha Carpel ....  Reporter (Video)  
Lahai Fahnbulleh ....  Taxi Driver  
Michael Luceri ....  Waiter at Party  
Ben Van Bergen ....  Storage Facility Client  
Edward Kerr ....  Pilot  
Cole Sprouse ....  Twin  
Dylan Sprouse ....  Twin  
  
Produced by 
Jody Hedien   (associate)  
Mark Johnson (I)   (executive)  
Donna Langley   (executive)  
Andrew Lazar    
Diana Pokorny   (co-producer)  
Brian Witten   (executive)  
  
Original music by 
George S. Clinton    
  
Cinematography by 
Allen Daviau    
  
Film Editing by 
Timothy Alverson    
Steve Mirkovich    
  
Production Design by 
Jan Roelfs    
  
Art Direction 
Sarah Knowles    
  
Set Decoration 
Leslie A. Pope    
  
Costume Design by 
Isis Mussenden    
  
Makeup Department 
Deborah K. Larsen ....  makeup department head  
Candy L. Walken ....  hair department head  
  
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director 
K.C. Colwell ....  first assistant director  
  
Sound Department 
Harry Peck Bolles ....  sound editor  
Marko A. Costanzo ....  foley artist  
Kate Eales ....  assistant adr editor  
Sean Garnhart ....  sound effects editor  
Paul Ledford ....  production sound mixer  
Jay Peck ....  foley artist  
Keenan Wyatt ....  boom operator  
  
Special Effects 
Brandon Craig ....  I/O coordinator (uncredited)  
Josh R. Jaggars ....  visual effects producer: VIFX  
Steve LaVietes ....  technical director: Sony Pictures Imageworks  
Brian Tipton ....  special effects  
Jeff Wolverton ....  technical director: CGI creature  
Chris Yee ....  lead technical assistant  
  
Stunts 
Nancy Young (I) ....  stunt double: Ms. Theron  
  
Other crew 
Paul C. Babin ....  camera operator  
Monica Barraza ....  production assistant: New York  
Ken Berkhout ....  rigging electrician  
Cyndi Brenner ....  assistant production co-ordinator: New York  
R. Adam Chambers ....  electrician  
Robert Earl Craft ....  location manager  
William M. DeLuca ....  mechanic (uncredited)  
John DeSimone ....  production co-ordinator: New York  
Ivan DeWolf ....  3-D digital artist  
Claudette Didul ....  additional set decorator  
Timothy Donohue ....  set production assistant: New York  
David Dunbar (III) ....  rigging gaffer  
Mike Flicker ....  music editor  
Mike Gerzevitc ....  electrician  
Rick Giovinazzo ....  music orchestrator  
Tony Hibbard ....  rigging best boy  
Gym Hinderer ....  assistant to A. Lazar  
William Kennedy (IV) ....  rigging electrician  
Steve Lazarus ....  rigging electrician  
Jenifer Lew ....  assistant to D. Pokorny  
Jeff Lingle ....  assistant music editor  
Michael Lyon ....  best boy electric  
Patti McNulty ....  art department co-ordinator  
William Moore (IV) ....  gaffer: New York  
Juan Morse ....  electrician  
Reggie Newkirk ....  first assistant camera  
Ross Richardson ....  electrician  
David Sabee ....  orchestra contractor  
Rick Sander ....  technical director  
Gomidas Semerjian ....  rigging electrician  
Derek Jan Vermaas ....  assistant production co-ordinator  
Larry Wallace (I) ....  chief lighting technician  
Randall D. Wilkins ....  set designer  
Bennie Zura ....  electrician  
  
 
 

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THE ASTRONAUT'S WIFE
A film review by Steve Rhodes
Copyright 1999 Steve Rhodes
RATING (0 TO ****):  * 1/2

Let me answer the question that is on the mind of every viewer who has seen writer/director Rand Ravich's THE ASTRONAUT'S WIFE: Is the movie really in slow motion as it appears?

No. But, the zombie-like movements so carefully mastered by the story's leads, Johnny Depp and Charlize Theron, make it seem that the projectionist is running the movie at one-quarter speed.

When we meet the Armacosts, husband Spencer (Depp) is off to his office in space. He's a NASA astronaut who will lose a mysterious 2 minutes while on a space walk. The story, which essentially reveals almost everything from the beginning, makes it obvious that aliens have visited him during this communication blackout.

Spencer's wife, Jillian (Theron), wants some answers when he gets back on earth, but she doesn't get them until months later. At a busy, company cocktail party in New York, where he has gone to accept a lucrative executive position at an aircraft firm, Spencer finally agrees to answer her constant queries about the infamous missing 2 minutes. He pulls her around a corner at the crowded enclave and begins having sex with her as he provides an explanation of sorts. Never does she interrupt him and suggest that he tell her the answers first before engaging in any sexual activity. The scene itself somehow shifts in mid-thrust to their bedroom. The story is rife with many such illogical and implausible happenings.

At least the party does provide an opportunity for some much needed humor in a movie that, given the hackneyed quality of the material, takes itself way too seriously. "I used to be into AIDS," one emaciated socialite tells Jillian. "Now, I'm into hunger."

Shot in shadows with heavy tones of dark wood paneling and deep blues, the film tries its best to look convincing. The script certainly needs all of the help it can get. The film, which is as inert as outer space, uses choral music full of over-the-top creepiness to supply most of the fright factor.

Johnny Depp, in one of his lesser performances, still manages to be the only even partially satisfying aspect to the movie. Charlize Theron, who was so good in a similar role last year in THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE, talks in constant whispers as if she thinks she's having a religious experience.

Jillian's hairdo? Short like Mia Farrow's. You know, like in ROSEMARY'S BABY. Cute, huh?

Okay, now finish the story yourself. You don't need any more clues.

THE ASTRONAUT'S WIFE runs 1:49. It is rated R for violence, language and a strong scene of sexuality and would be acceptable for teenagers.

Email: Steve.Rhodes@InternetReviews.com Web: http://www.InternetReviews.com




Have I seen this movie: Yes
And what did I think: The Astronaut's Wife is a story that builds way too slowly, and when it gets to the conclusion, it leaves you wondering.... what was the point of that? Johnny Depp plays an astronaut who loses contact with NASA for 2 minutes while in orbit. Apparently some alien being inhabits him and when he comes back to earth he impregnates his wife to reproduce with his alien-kids. Throughout the movie, his wife, played by Charlize Theron, tries to figure out what happened to her husband and what she has inside of her. It's kind of a cross between Invasion of the Body Snatchers and Rosemary's Baby. Neither one is done correctly though. For starters, this movie should have had a stronger female lead. I don't think Charlize Theron was able to handle this. Johnny Depp was just too boring here with his bad southern accent. The movie itself was boring as heck too, and just made you want it to hurry to the ending. There were a few suspenseful scenes, but they were too far and few. This is not a sci-fi thriller, so if that's what you're looking for, you'll be sorely disappoined. As for being a thriller, there wasn't much thrills at all and very little suspense. I'd steer clear of this film and rent something else.

I give The Astronaut's Wife 2 out of 5 stars
Review written February 23, 2000
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