The Gift (2000):

Starring:

Cate Blanchett - Anabelle "Annie" Wilson

Giovanni Ribisi - Buddy Cole

Keanu Reeves - Donnie Barksdale

Katie Holmes - Jessica King

Greg Kinnear - Wayne Collins

Hilary Swank - Valeria Barksdale

Michael Jeter - Gerald Weems

Kim Dickens - Linda

Gary Cole - David Duncan

Rosemary Harris - Annie's Granny

J.K. Simmons - Sheriff Pearl Johnson

Chelcie Ross - Kenneth King

Director:

Sam Raimi (The Spider-Man Trilogy; Drag Me To Hell; Evil Dead 1 & 2; Army Of Darkness)

Synopsis:

Set in Georgia, the film concerns a widowed mother named Annie (Cate Blanchett) who is blessed with the ability to have psychic visions. When Annie is asked to use her powers to investigate the murder of a rich society girl (Katie Holmes) who was engaged to a local high school principal (Greg Kinnear), she finds her "gift" is as destructive as it is helpful. Many of the townspeople have mixed regard for Annie's abilities, including an abusive husband (Keanu Reeves) and his brutalized wife (Hilary Swank) (the former threatens Annie and her children with taunts that she is a devil) as well as a deeply troubled auto mechanic (Giovanni Ribisi) who may hold a key to the events in question. The Georgia residents soon find themselves all suspects in the investigation, and Annie is forced to confront past demons while still trying to help solve the mystery.

Review:

Who would have thought that Cate Blanchett would be such a completely sexy white trash woman. A woman who is known for some of the biggest female parts in movies playing a single mother with "The Gift". The story was co-written by one William Robert (Billy Bob to those who aren't on a personal friendship level with him) Thornton loosely based on the story of his mother & her experiences as psychic. Firstly lets say that Keanu Reeves is a complete bad ass in every way in this movie. He is totally the best part & powerful. Cate Blanchett is as always an incredible lead actress & she really delivers all different emotions throughout. Giovanni Ribisi plays as he always does a creep, or in this case a mentally & emotionally damaged man with a seriously messed up background. There is a whole lot of just crazy things you learn about his past that make his friendship with Annie & his character great. The rest of the cast is very good, they all add a great amount to the story. This is of course the famous Katie Holmes topless movie that is alluded to in "Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle". Yes they are real. It's got a very unique twist on a genre that has seen its fair share of good films & stinkers. Overall it has a great group of actors, a good story & some very powerful stuff all the way through.

Budget: $10,000,000

Box Office: $44,567,606

Profit: $34,567,606

Rotten Tomatoes: 56%

Flixster: 56%

73%

Lead Acting: 14/15

Supporting Cast: 11/15

Plot: 7/10

Compared To The Genre: 7/10

Cinematography: 12/20

Intrigue: 14/20

Extra: 8/10