Film Review: K-Pax (2001)
Mainstream media in the West recently began putting great effort to convince public about certainty or at least great possibility of aliens visiting Earth. More than two decades ago such claims, if persistent enough, could put someone behind the walls of psychiatric institution. That event serves as basis for the plot of K-Pax, 2001 drama directed by Iain Softley.
Film is based on the eponymous 1995 novel by Gene Brower. The plot begins in New York City where police finds mysterious stranger (played by Kevin Spacey) who claim that his name is Prot and that he came from K-Pax, planet 1000 light years away from Earth. He is brought to Manhattan psychiatric hospital where he is to be observed by Dr. Mark Powell (played by Jeff Bridges). Powell is psychiatrist so dedicated to his work that he became estranged from his own family. He becomes intrigued by Prot’s appearance, behaviour and stories. Prot turns out to have beneficial influence on other patience, shows resistance of anti-psychotic drugs and apparent knowledge of obscure astronomical facts make Dr. Powell entertain heretical thought that his patient might indeed be what he claims to be. The issue becomes even more important after Prot announces that he would leave Earth in couple of weeks. Powell, concerned that Prot might then do something harmful to himself and others, starts working very hard in order to solve the mystery.
K-Pax was greeted with little enthusiasm with critics and controversy over alleged plagiarism (with the novel and film having unusually strong resemblance to 1986 Argentinian film Man Facing Southeast) didn’t help its cause either. It nevertheless represents a surprisingly piece of cinema. While the trailer suggests just another overly sentimental drama that preaches love towards fellow man, world peace and saving the whales, script by Charles Leavitt takes the plot much more seriously. Although K-Pax at times toys with celebration of family values, it respects the audience’s intelligence. The best thing about it that the main dilemma – whether Prot is alien or simply delusional mental patient – is deliberately left open, allowing viewers to make their own conclusions.
K-Pax is helped a lot by steady direction of British film maker Iain Softley who, with the help of cinematographer John Mathieson, gives arguments for both sides of the debate about real nature of Prot. Film benefited a lot from good cast, mainly Kevin Spacey who again showed that he could easily handle the most complex roles. Bridges, who played actual alien in Carpenter’s Starman many years earlier, is confident enough to play the second fiddle in this film. Supporting players are also good, those. like David Patrick Kelly, who playing eccentric mental patients. Well-directed, well-written and well-acted, K-Pax is a film light years above its unenviable reputation and could be recommended both to those who like science fiction and regular drama.
RATING: 7/10 (+++)
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