Intermission: Indian director brings great effects to film

"The Cell"

Directed by: Tarsem Singh

Starring: Jennifer Lopez, Vincent D'Onofrio and Vince Vaughn

Rated: R

Care to venture a guess as to what country has the largest film industry on the planet?

It's not the United States. No, Hollywood is second to India's film production business, referred to as "Bollywood." They crank out thousands of films a year.

I wonder then, just by the sheer numbers, why so few Indian filmmakers have crossed over to Hollywood. Until recently, only one name came to my mind, that of movie genius Satyajit Ray. He wrote, and shot on his days off, "Pather Panchali," a film that won worldwide acclaims.

Last year, another Indian broke out with a critically acclaimed commercial hit. Director M. Night Shyamalan's "The Sixth Sense" was a runaway hit around the globe.

Now, on the heels of that film, is director Tarsem Singh and his strangely enticing psychological thriller, "The Cell."

As a director, Tarsem (for many of his projects he drops his surname) is more of a visual artist than a master storyteller. Considering his background is in television commercials and music videos (REM's "Losing My Religion") this is fairly understandable. Just give him some time to hone his craft. For now, one can relish in the bizarre beauty of this film, ranging from Salvador Dali-inspired landscapes to scenes reminiscent of photographer Richard Avedon's psychedelic period.

Jennifer Lopez plays Catherine Deane, a child psychologist who is doing experimental work funded by a multibillionaire whose son suffers from a rare form of catatonic schizophrenia. Catherine and her team are able to electronically link her and the youngster, allowing the doctor to enter the kid's mind.

While inside the boy's mind, Catherine tries to communicate and coax him back to the "real" world.

All of this is a setup for the plot to come. The FBI is on the trail of a twisted serial killer, whose victims are found gutted, bleached and made up like dolls. The evidence points to Carl Stargher and when the Feds finally raid his place, they find to their dismay he has slipped into a catatonic stupor. They know he has another girl trapped somewhere and after watching home videos of Stargher's other victims, they know his latest victim has precious little time.

The FBI finds out about Catherine's experimental technique and since Stargher suffers from the same rare form of schizophrenia as her young patient, they convince her to get inside the killer's mind and try to find clues as to where he keeps his victims.

Whereas her young patient's mind is filled with vast desert scenes and dreamy scenery, Stargher's head is filled with bizarre rooms and views as well as memories of his abusive father. It's not a pleasant world but it does make for some fascinating set design.

When Catherine begins to slip away into Stargher's mind, FBI agent Peter Novak (Vince Vaughn) jacks in as well, trying to find any clues to the whereabouts of the missing girl.

Catherine is rescued from the killer's psyche but then begins an experiment she has wanted to do on her young patient. She reverses the procedure, allowing Stargher to enter her mind.

The final act will keep you on the edge of your seat in yet another twist on the tried and true "race against time."

"The Cell" is good science fiction and interesting drama, with a vibrant visual style.

It is now playing at the Campbell 16 Cin, Springfield 8 and Town and Country 6.

(Jim Wunderle works at Associated Video Producers and is a Springfield free-lance writer and musician.)