REVIEW DATE:5:27:9:9
So, once again we come to Big Steve, Stephen King. Screw Howard Stern, King has Fartman beat as the King of all media hands down. With at least 40 books, 12 of which are movies; it is undeniable that Mr. King is one of the most highly paid authors of the late 20th century. And all he has to do is sit in his house and (to quote George Carlin) "think up crazy shit". Man, I want his job.
In 1979, King dreamed up one piece of crazy shit called The Dead Zone. In 1983, David (The Fly) Cronenberg directed that piece of crazy shit into this movie. Since we here at AYTIWS just, adore Mr. Cronenberg's work how could we resist? Besides, what else is there to do on a lazy Saturday afternoon but sit in the house and watch The Movie Channel? Around here the strip clubs don't open until 8:00PM.
The Dead Zone tells of John Smith (Christopher Walken, yes that Christopher Walken). Yes, that's actually his name. Bet you'd have no trouble finding this guy in the phone book. Johnny's got everything pretty much down packed. He's got a steady job a schoolteacher, nice loving parents (who aren't given enough screen time, but whatever) and his girlfriend is played by Brooke Adams! This guy is set. Since this is a Stephen King story (adapted for the screen by Jeffrey Boam, who also wrote a little movie called Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade) we don't have to wait long before he's hit by a truck.
You see, this is the way Big Steve's stories work. First you learn to care about the character. Then you see his life go down the crapper. So it is with Johnny. Being hit by a speeding auto puts him in a coma for 5 years. As if that weren't bad enough, when he eventually wakes up he discovers that his mother has become a religious freak, his girlfriend is married and has a kid, and he has psychic powers.
Umm hum. Psychic powers. And you thought this was just another Rip Van Winkle, didn't ya? You don't read that many Stephen King books do you? There's always some weird paranormal twist, there just has to be. The paranormal twist here is that, through touch, Johnny can "see" events that have happened to people, and even some that will happen to people. He tells a nurse that her house is on fire. He helps his doctor, Dr. Weizak (Herbert Lom) find a mother he lost in World War 2. He helps Sheriff Bannerman (Tom Skerritt) catch the "Castle Rock Strangler".
Before you ask; yes, this is the same Castle Rock that appeared in Needful Things. At least, in the book it was.
This is a strangely written story. In most movies, you'll see the main character overcoming a central conflict and that's all. Here, the whole back two-thirds of the flick is divided into these little episodes. The adventures of Dead Zoneman, if you will. In fact, the main point of conflict (when Johnny "sees" that a man running for Senator will eventually star World War 3) doesn't appear until 60 minuets into a 103-minuet movie. While this is a strange way to construct a movie, it was perfect for the book. With this only slightly mutated adaptation, and Cronenberg's excellent directing of the psychic flashes, the whole movie flies by like a NATO bomber. I wish it had lasted longer.
It really surprised me that Christopher Walken, so well known for his rolls as villains (my personal fav being Batman Returns), pulled off such a good performance here. He's no Frank Black, but he's a damn good John Smith. Those wild eyed stairs he gives the camera are perfect for Johnny, and the strong emotions Walken manages to get across truly help you identify with the tragedy of John's situation.
Now, Martin Sheen. Now we're talking. No matter what he does Sheen truly manages to be great in his roles. Here he plays the above mentioned Senator Stillson with a kind of Lex Luthorish silent deadliness. Stillson is the kind of guy who will gather dirt, manipulate, and basically steam roll over anyone to get what he wants. This character reminds me of a similar character Sheen played not to long ago, that of Jason Wynn in the live action Spawn movie. Don't worry, I'll get to Spawn soon enough so we can compare the two.
Hey, it's stars Martin Sheen and is directed by David Cronenberg. What more convincing do you need? Go out and rent The Dead Zone right now. Don't just take my word for it. My mother hates Stephen King (Actual quote: "You still read that crap?"), yet she loves The Dead Zone. So go out and rent it, maybe it'll convince the Stephen King hatter of you're household to cross over.
Though, you should probably show them The Shining first. If Jack can't get 'um, no one can.
RATING (OUT OF A POSSIBLE FIVE)
