Review of K PAX

Introduction

Prot (Kevin Spacey) when questioned says he`s from a planet called, `K-PAX`, in orbit around a binary star a 1000 light years away in a constellation called Lyra. Most people, it would seem, that believe they`re from another planet are usually those that need help the most, and this is where Prot ends up going after being arrested by police at Grand Central Station. The doctor assigned to his case, Dr Mark Powell (Jeff Bridges) thinks that Prot is just another loon, but there`s something more. Prot is coherant, is rational, very intelligent and is clearly a positive influence on the other patients, so what`s his secret, who is he?

The more Powell probes into Prot, the more disturbed he becomes at what he finds out. Time is of the essence as Prot declares that on July 27th he will return to K-PAX, leaving Powell but a couple of weeks to dig in to unearth the truth.

Video

K-PAX is presented with a 2.35:1 anamorphic transfer and it looks very rich. Light plays a very important part of the story and a lot of care and attention has gone into the overall style of the film. The wide frame is filled with well composed imagery and it`s never dull to look at. Colours and black are rich and the detail is high. The only problem I had with the transfer was with the very slight edge enhancement. It was noticeable in some scenes, but don`t let this put you off, the image is still very impressive. There are no problems with other digital artefacts.

Audio

We get a very good Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack. Edward Shearmur`s beautiful soundtrack plays a poignant part in adding warmth to the piece while remaining simple. It works hand-in-hand with the visual style fitting in perfectly. There aren`t a lot of scenes that demand all speakers so what we have works well. The dialogue remains clear throughout from the centre and there`s a nice ambietic feel with the other speakers.

The region 1 disc carries a DTS track but loses the extra audio commentary found here.

Features

Tranquil menus are perfectly themed and easy to navigate hinting at the nature of the film. There are quite a few extras here including two audio commentaries.

• UK Commentary feat. Director Iain Softley and Director of Photography John Mathieson - I have mixed feelings about this first commentary. While there`s a wealth of insight into the writing, the production design, casting and the lighting of the film, the director and DP seem too laid back and easy going. Not as infectious or as fast as say a Paul Verhoeven commentary or amausing as a Kevin Smith one. Still, there`s a lot of info to be gleaned if you have the patience to sit and listen.

• US Commentary feat. Director Iain Softley - Another commentary though with just the director, this is more scene specific. Softley talks more about ideas behind the scenes shot and I thought that this was a better commentary to listen to as he sounds more engaging. There are some things that are repeated on the first audio track, but not too much. Softley doesn`t talk incessantly so you can still watch the film and hear dialogue while you`re waiting for Softley to speak a few useful pearls.

• Alternate Ending (4:20) - This puts a slightly different take on the end of the film and I admit that I prefer the theatrical cut. I`d be a shame for me to spoil it here for you.

• Deleted Scenes (7:51) - A montage of deleted scenes that, while interesting, are clearly not needed. I think the tone and feel would have been slightly different had these not been cut.

• The Making of K-PAX (11:32) - Less than 12 minutes long, do you really need me to lay into this? Too basic and too short, but you`ll learn why it took six years to bring to the big screen.

• Photographs by Jeff Bridges (1:40) - 13 black & white pictures running as a slideshow with smooth transitions and music, all taken by the man himself on set. These are good and I could easily have watched more!

• Storyboard Comparison (1:31) - This covers the opening shots in the film where Prot appears in the train station. Admittedly not that interesting since it`s too short and doesn`t cover anything really significent in the film.

• Interviews (13:08)- This is broken down into interviews with: Kevin Spacey (Prot), Jeff Bridges (Dr Mark Powell), Mary McCormack (Rachel Powell), Ajay Naidu (Dr Chakraborty), Iain Softley (Director), Lawrence Gordon (Producer) and Dr Alessia Gottlieb (Technical Advisor). You`d think that with all these people we`d get a decent size interview, but these are mere soundbites and it`s not something I rate highly. While interesting the first time you watch it, you won`t bother with it again.

• Trailer (2:31) - It`s too long and unfolds too many nice little surprises. It could have been put together better than this.

• Also Available - Anamorphic trailers for other FilmFour releases: The Bully, The Warrior, Charlotte Gray, Monsoon Wedding and Croupier.

Sadly the DVD-ROM features and the DTS soundtrack from the R1 disc aren`t here. You can see the ROM stuff on the official K-PAX website (be warned however that it is one of the slowest all Flash websites on the planet), and it`s an unfortunate ommision because it`s actually good. But what we get in place of these two missing features is an extra audio commentary not to be found anywhere else, so it`s up to you to decide if this is your thing.

K-PAX comes with English subtitles and is packaged in an Amaray case.

Conclusion

The first thing I`ll say is that I thoroughly enjoyed K-PAX. The visuals are impressive in setting a soothing tone and makes it very easy to follow the film`s pace. Director of Photography, John Mathieson (Gladiator, Hannibal), has created a beautiful visual space for the actors. The lighting, colours, production design and costumes all meld together so well and Edward Shearmur`s light and airy score has stayed with me for days on end and is wonderful to listen to. With a story such as K-PAX and its outer space concept, everything works. I love the idea of extra-terrestial life and the ideas explored here have a certain rationale. There`s also an element of introspection, and how one attempts to `fix` things in life. Particularly Bridges character, Dr Powell, with the son he hardly talks to.

Is it sc-fi? A thriller perhaps? Drama? Well, it works with all these elements and it`s not deliberate, that`s just the way of the story. It`s not an action film in the traditional sense and there are only a handful of locations in play, most of it being at the psychiatric hospital.

K-PAX will leave you guessing throughout. The script is structured well and along the way we`re presented with contradictions and ambiguity leading to two possible conclusions about Prot (Kevin Spacey). Prot is regressed under hypnosis by Powell and as a being from another planet he seemed to be perfectly susceptible to being hypnotised. I wasn`t sure if this could happen and it puzzled me a bit, but then this is one aspect of the films ambiguity. You`re not sure of things that happen and then you`re faced with something else that might contradict it like Prot being receptive to ultraviolet light. Is he really from another planet and just inhabiting a human body, or is he is a disturbed man with a traumatic past?

The performances of Bridges and Spacey are very good, and it`s interesting to see the role reversal as Bridges analyses the starman. Direction and editing seem about right. The pace of the story is gentle without lingering too long on any one scene with suitable dramatic moments thrown in.

The region 1 disc has the additional DTS soundtrack and a few DVD-ROM features and while it would have been nice to have listened to the DTS track here, the picture alone is better and seeing that the sound isn`t boombastic, I`d go with this PAL disc over the NTSC. The overall package and presentation is very good. If you do watch it, wait till the end credits finish rolling. K-PAX is a thoughtful and whimsical journey and something which I can heartily recommend.