Anamorph (2007)

Director:

Henry Miller

Writers:

Henry Miller (writer)
Tom Phelan (writer)

Release Date:

5 August 2008 (Netherlands)

Genre:

Thriller

Plot:

A psychological thriller based on the concept of anamorphosis, a painting technique that manipulates the laws of perspective to create two competing images on a single canvas. |

Plot Keywords:

Female Nudity | Cafe | Tattoo | Artist | Skull

Cast

Willem Dafoe	...	Stan
Scott Speedman	...	Carl Uffner
Peter Stormare	...	Blair Collet
Clea DuVall	...	Sandy Strickland
James Rebhorn	...	Chief Lewellyn Brainard
Amy Carlson	...	Alexandra Fredericks
Yul Vazquez	...	Jorge Ruiz
Don Harvey	...	Killer
Paul Lazar	...	Medical Examiner
Edward Hibbert	...	Gallery Owner
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Dennis Albanese	...	AA Member
Amir Arison	...	Criminal Profiler
Michael Buscemi	...	Detective #2
Desiree Casado	...	Teenage Checkout Girl
Jordan Charney	...	Review Board chairman
Tandy Cronyn	...	Moderator
Monique Curnen	...	Female Student
Stephen Daniels	...	Reporter #2
Paz de la Huerta	...	Young Woman
Mick Foley	...	Antique Store Owner
Lolita Foster	...	Drink Waitress
Edwin Freeman	...	Police Officer
Robin Goldsmith	...	Stone-Faced Detective
Malcolm Goodwin	...	Museum Guard
Deborah Harry	...	Neighbor
Marcia Haufrecht	...	Diner Waitress
Allison Hope	...	Crime scene photo victim
Robert C. Kirk	...	Heavy-Set Detective
Tim Lamendola	...	Off-Duty Detective
Samantha MacIvor	...	Crystal
Lucy Martin	...	Uptight Woman
David McDaniel	...	Board Member
Robert McKay	...	Detective #1
Martin Pfefferkorn	...	AA Member
Sharrieff Pugh	...	ECT Technician
Nicolas Quilter	...	Dead Man At Tugboat
Gary Ray	...	Officer #1
Cassandra Seidenfeld	...	NYPD Officer
Barbara Sicuranza	...	Forensic Technician
Ashley Springer	...	Jeff Sarno
Paul Sutt	...	Hanged Man
Elizabeth West	...	Reporter #1
Billy Wheelan	...	Young Man
Virginia Wing	...	Board Member

MPAA:

Rated R for disturbing grisly images, some violence and language.

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS | SDDS

Certification:

Australia:MA | Netherlands:16 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Kamala Films

Goofs:

Continuity: When Stan meets his former partner, he rolls down the window of his car on the passenger's's side. During this scene the height of he window is changes in every shot.

Quotes:

Sandy Strickland: Let's go somewhere, away from here. Above ground, maybe. Like hiking? I'm going with some friends this weekend. You can come.
Stan: I'd love to, but... I gotta work.
Sandy Strickland: [sarcastically] That's shocking.
Stan: Another time.
Sandy Strickland: Probably... probably not.

Less than I'd hoped for...

I would give this movie about a 6.5 out of 10. It is entertaining, the central plot is somewhat original, and I was a fan of the cinematography. It's rather visually appealing.

That being said, it was definitely not all that I'd hoped for. One of the other reviewers said the filmmakers thought they were making a smarter movie than they actually were, and I have to say I agree with that. The plot concept and the idea of anamorphosis is rather original and has a lot of potential. Yet I feel as if the filmmakers thought that this concept was SO ingenious that they didn't need to develop other parts of the film. The back story, for example, is explicated through memories and conversations so that the past is never wholly or even adequately revealed to the audience. What's worse, the character development is completely lacking. Willem Dafoe, who acting-wise does a nice enough job, reveals certain attributes about his character in very subtle ways. The rest of the characters, however, are pretty one-dimensional and used strictly as plot devices. And, as is common in film, the police work done in the film is a bit illogical.

All and all, the film is all right. I'm a big fan of psychological thrillers and I was certainly on the edge of my seat for a great deal of this one. It's pretty instantly gratifying, but if you take a few minutes to think about what you just saw, you might see some of the flaws I just mentioned.

PS - for those of you who are squeamish: there is little/no actual violence, but plenty of gross dead bodies.