|
|
|||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
 |
Review by Simon Bell |
 |
DVD SPECIAL FEATURES: UK commentary featuring director Iain Softley and
director of photography John Mathieson; US commentary featuring Iain Softley;
Alternate ending; Deleted scenes; The Making Of K-Pax; Photographs by Jeff
Bridges; Interviews; Theatrical trailer; Storyboard comparison.
TOP astronomical scientist Dr Chakraborty states that Prot (extra-terrestrial
Kevin Spacey) can see ultra-violet light, in the astounding range of 300 to
400 Angstroms. This is incorrect and should, in fact, be 300 to 400 nanometers
(or 3,000 to 4,000 Angstroms). The range stated of 300 to 400 Angstroms would
be in the extreme ultra-violet near the edge of the X-ray spectrum... Not
what the doctor ordered at all.
A minor factual corrigendum to some maybe, but for those subjecting themselves
to this two hours of nonsensical prolixity, it's either that or 'Guess the
Next Revel Out the Bag'.
It begins with our central character picked up in New York's Grand Central
Station after appearing from a shard of heavenly light (or seeming to), coming
to the aid of a mugging victim and finally being arrested for having no ID.
Localised in a public psychiatric hospital by men in white coats who don't
know what to make of this supposed but undiagnosable mental invalid, Prot
protests he's from distant planet K-Pax, a place not concerned with or complicated
by such unnecessary piffle as family or light or dogs or something.
Failing to respond to mammoth portions of psychotropic drugs, and eating bananas
with their skins on, convinces Dr Mark Powell (former Starman Jeff Bridges,
trademark nice hair on full show) that Prot MUST be a loon. Or even a traveller
from outer space.
Yet One More Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest then sees the shuffling enigma, head
occasionally cocked in bird-like inquisitiveness, befriend his fellow patients
to mesmerising and medically undefinable effect.
Director Iain Softley - the maker of Backbeat, Hackers and The Wings of The
Dove - wants us to ' change the way we look at the world' and 'celebrate the
possibilities'; K-Pax (contesting for the world's most dire film title with
Hell Comes to Frog Town and Leprichaun In The Hood) supposes we'll think about
the small things in life, the wonder and magic of our very existence... I
just wondered what I was going to have for tea.
If you only rush out and buy one alien DVD in the coming weeks, make sure
you spend your hard-earned cash on the cute one with the glowing finger...
this one's lost in Spacey.
