Hey folks, Harry here with Quint's look at THE SECRET WINDOW, which Quint doesn't hate, but at the same time, he feels that the film is ultimately a disappointment for not living up to the potential sum that talent like Depp, Koepp and Turturro "could" lead one to believe. Ultimately, in many ways he lays the blame at King's feet for writing a story unworthy of this talent to begin with. Well, here's Quint laying it out in more detail...
Ahoy, squirts. Quint here in my hotel room in Venice, CA... the AFM is over and I'm writing this during the commercial breaks for Stephen King's KINGDOM HOSPITAL. This is the second break... the show is pretty good so far, but those damn advance looks at what's coming after the break are totally ruining the suspense and mystery.
Anyway, it's obvious that I'm a huge King freak. I love his work and have read every single thing he has written. I'm also a huge Depp freak. His performance in FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS is one for the ages. It's a great film and he's a great actor. So, you can imagine how much I was looking forward to SECRET WINDOW. Not only was Depp in it, but David Koepp adapted and directed the film. I love Koepp's STIR OF ECHOES. Add into the equation John Turturro in a very POLTERGEIST II scary preacher role and you have something that should have rocked my world.
The story SECRET WINDOW SECRET GARDEN was one of my least favorite stories in FOUR PAST MIDNIGHT, which seems doomed to never get a truly great treatment on TV or the big screen. THE LANGOLIERS was my favorite story from that bunch and you all saw how terrible that turned out.
SECRET WINDOW is nowhere near that level of crappiness, but it is a disappointment, more for wasting a pair of good performances from Johnny Depp and John Turturro than for being a terrible film.
For those that don't know the story, it's about a newly divorced writer who isolates himself in a small cabin in Butt Fuck, Maine. One day he gets a visit from a man accusing him of stealing a story. There's definitely a creepy vibe coming off the guy... like I mentioned above the character is very reminiscent of the scary dead preacher from POLTERGEIST 2.
Unfortunately for the film the story isn't worthy of the talent involved. The film's twist is obvious from 20 minutes into the movie and no matter how good Depp and Turturro are, no matter how pretty the cinematography is... there just isn't any suspense or real interest in the story. I found myself just wishing the obvious twist would just hurry up and happen.
Depp is great in the movie, as usual. Jesus is great in the movie, as usual. Koepp's direction is fine, the cinematography is fine... the story just wasn't worthy and Koepp wasn't able to do anything in the screenwriting process to take it to that next level.
All said and done, SECRET WINDOW isn't a bad movie, just a mediocre film that should have been fantastic. Stephen King's world is a little uneasy at the moment... Darabont has THE MIST, which I have total faith in and the upcoming redux of SALEM'S LOT, which I have high hopes for. Then we have Mick Garris's (THE STAND, SLEEPWALKERS, TV SHINING) take on King's novella RIDING THE BULLET, which I have no idea how it'll turn out and the big question mark: Vadim Perelman's THE TALISMAN. I should have some new info on that project soon, so keep your eyes peeled.
I better get going, squirts. I'll be back soon with the continuation of my AFM coverage. 'Til that day, this is Quint bidding you all a fond farewell and adieu.
-Quint
email: Quint hasn't forgotten the face of his father! Email him here!!!
