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The Mindhunters of this film's title refer, of course, to the criminal profilers at the FBI who succeed in solving seemingly unsolvable cases through Sherlockian techniques of observation and analysis. It's not easy to become a profiler, and only the best and the brightest make the cut and get the opportunity to prove themselves. The final exam, dare I say it, is a real killer. That's literally the case in this film, as a group of profilers in training find themselves facing a real-world test in which failure equates with a most painful death - their own. I can't say I was very impressed with the profile trainees in this movie; when they start dropping like flies and pointing really scared, angry fingers at one another, logic tends to get thrown out the window. In this respect, the story isn't all that groundbreaking - it's classic And Then There Were None material. The filmmakers do make things interesting, though. For example, the character I expected to last until the very end was the first to die - and that death was ingeniously done (albeit scientifically impossible as it is presented). All but one of the deaths are, in fact, presented quite well. The killer has imagination and a meticulous attention to detail - and that makes him/her a worthy foe. He/she informs his/her potential victims of the time of each death, leaves them confusing little clues along the way, and polishes each of them off in impressive fashion. The killer's also pretty difficult to identify, as events in the movie point you toward one character after another as the prime suspect. There are only a limited number of suspects to choose from, as the action takes place on a deserted island. Could it be Jake Harris (Val Kilmer), the profile instructor with a reputation for pushing his students too far? He supposedly left the island, but no one actually saw him leave. Perhaps it is the obvious suspect, Gabe Jensen (LL Cool J), an "observer" who joined the group at the last minute? How about the intense, temper-prone female? The guy in the wheelchair who refuses to give up his gun for a single second? The fellow with the accent? How about the disarmingly quiet Sara Moore (Cold Case's Kathryn Morris)? It could be anybody. The only way to prove your innocence is to die an ugly death. By and large, this is a pretty good movie. The deaths are well-executed, everyone is a valid suspect at one time or another, and the dark naval station environment helps establish a dark, menacing, and increasingly constrictive atmosphere. And you have to like the premise - who better to orchestrate a killing spree than a trained criminal profiler who knows the tendencies, strengths, and weaknesses of his selected victims? It's true that there are some logic problems with the truth as it is finally revealed, but that doesn't stop Mindhunters from being quite an absorbing, suspenseful thriller.Read full review
A brilliant performance by Sandra Bullock in this psychological thriller. A very original, unpredictable plot with plenty of tense moments.
ok movie
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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