Synopsis...
Prot, a being who looks like a man, claiming to
travel on a beam of light from a planet called K-PAX is taken
into custody by N.Y. train station police and taken to New York's
Manhattan Psychiatric Institute for observation, evaluation and
treatment, under the care of Dr. Mark Powell, Chief of Clinical
Psychology (Jeff Bridges). Dr. Powell finds that he must do some
detective work to find out who this man really is with the movie's
audience along for the ride. Is he a K-Paxian or a man living
in a delusional world? It is clear that whether or not this patient
is an alien or a regular human being, he suffered an unacceptable
emotional trauma, and is in need of mental health help.
Promotional Lines: "Change the way you look at
the world." "He Says He's From The Planet K-PAX You'll Want To
Believe Him." "Celebrate the Possibilities."
Quotes: PROT: "Why is a soap bubble round? Because
it is the most energy efficient configuration. Similarly, on your
planet I look like you; on K-Pax I look like a K-Paxian." "You
humans, sometimes it is hard to imagine how you made it this far."
Dr. Powell: "What would you say if I told you
I think you're as human as I am?" Prot: "I would say you're in
need of a thorazine drip, Doctor ."
Review...
The story begins in the middle of New York's
Central Train Station, focusing on a homeless veteran in a wheel
chair, Freddie (Clarke Peters) begging for donations. Suddenly,
Freddie notices a strong beam of sunlight filtering down through
the station windows. His vision is temporarily blocked for a moment
by the passing crowd. When Freddie looks again, he sees that a
man with sunglasses had suddenly appeared. A Russian lady is pushed
down by some thugs who steal her luggage right near this mysterious
man with the glasses. As this man moves to help the lady to her
feet, the police arrive.
While this man, who identifies himself as Prot,
is cleared from the mugging by the man in the wheel chair, the
police suspect Prot doesn't have both oars in the water, place
him in cuffs, and take him to Bellvue Mental Health facility for
observation. Three weeks later, Prot is sent to New York's Manhattan
Psychiatric Institute for observation, evaluation and treatment,
becoming the patient of Dr. Mark Powell, Chief of Clinical Psychology
(Jeff Bridges).
As Dr. Powell gently probes Prot about himself
and about life on his planet, K-PAX and observes Prot's unique
characteristics, such as his gentleness, his acting like an outside
observer, (notating everything in a little book for his report),
his sensitivity to light, and his love for fruit, such as bananas,
which he eats skin and all, Dr. Powell comes to the conclusion
that Prot is the most convincing delusional he has ever treated,
and must be creative in this patient's treatment, if he was going
to help this patient face the horror that drove him into this
delusional state of being.
Dr. Powell turns to his brother-in-law, Dr. Steve
Becker (Brian Howe), an Astro-physicist for some challenging questions
to run past Prot. Prot's answers so impress Dr. Becker and his
co-workers, Prot, along with Dr. Powell and hospital personnel
are invited to go to the observatory to talk with the scientists.
When asked to draw K-Pax's rotational path, Prot does so, much
to the amazement of all.
Dr. Powell then takes Prot home to his family's
July 4th picnic in the backyard, where Prot experiences an everyday
occurrence which upsets him, giving Dr. Powell a revelation about
the problem. Whether from K-PAX or a resident of earth, it becomes
clear that whatever happened in the past had a traumatic effect
on this being, which he needs help in dealing with it. The question
is, does Dr. Powell have two patients in one or just a delusional
one?
Throughout the storyline, clues to both the horrendous
event and Prot's identity are given to the audience. The evidence
can be argued for either possibility of Prot's true nature; human
or alien. Like a good detective, Dr. Powell puts the clues together,
the most important ones gotten through hypnotizing Prot. At an
early age, Prot claims to have traveled to earth and had become
friends with a farm boy whose father worked as a knocker at a
slaughterhouse. After seeing a small piece of the horrible incident
through Prot's eyes, and getting some personal property from Prot
by accident, Dr. Powell races against time, to find Prot's human
friend or counterpart identity as Prot has announced that he would
be traveling back to K-PAX on July 27th, not a good announcement
for either a delusional man, or a traumatized alien.
The secondary storyline shows the personal relationships
that develop between Prot and the people at the hospital. Being
helpful and gentle by nature, Prot helps the other patients by
giving them tasks, which don't always please the staff, though
he has a kind word for everyone, making a point to know the staff
on first name basis. He even has suggestions for Dr. Powell concerning
his family. This secondary storyline melds nicely with the main
storyline, adding some depth to the film. By the end of the film,
Prot's horrible secret of what happened is shown to the audience,
as it is revealed to Dr. Powell.
The insightful direction was by Englishman Iain
Softley, who got his start in theatrical productions and graduated
to films in 1993. This fourth effort in film directing is very
well done, as he does a great job with this psychological, Sci-Fi,
mystery / drama, in both the pacing, planning of the scenes and
the direction of the actors. The end result brings the screenplay
to life, creating a psychological/ Sci-Fi fantasy classic, which
solves the mystery of what had happened in the past, but still
leaves one guessing at the true identity of Prot.
There are three points of view about whether Prot
was who he claimed to be or whether he was a human being suffering
from psychosis, or perhaps a combination of both. Some see spiritual
allegories to Jesus Christ and His life. Arguments for each point
of view can be found on imdb.com.
This entertaining screenplay, based on the first
novel of a trilogy by Gene Brewer, was by up and coming screenwriter,
Charles Leavitt, who catches the spirit and drama of this novel.
Jeff Bridges was perfectly cast as Dr. Mark Powell,
and is very convincing as the caring psychiatrist turned detective,
in his efforts to help Prot, a tortured soul, alien or human,
traumatized by a past event.
The highlight scenes are when Dr. Powell puts
Prot under hypnosis. A favorite series of scenes with Bridges
has to be his reactions upon realizing what his patient(s) had
been exposed to, as the sheriff explains the catastrophic events
that had happened to cause all the psychological damage. Bridges
also does a fine job portraying Dr. Powell at home. Besides work,
Dr. Powell has some struggles at home as well. His dedication
to his work clashes with his family time, and he is estranged
from his son by his first marriage.
Kevin Spacey does a fantastic job portraying
the character of Prot, a man who claims to be an alien visitor,
observing and offering help to those humans around him, while
harboring a dark secret or two. Spacey is truly a talented actor.
A favorite scene shows Kevin Spacey, portraying
Prot, eating a banana, skin and all, looking totally satisfied.
Another favorite series of scenes, which showcases Spacey's talent
is when his character is under hypnosis portraying a young boy,
a 17 year old and an adult, remembering a traumatic experience,
which will leave sensitive viewers grabbing for the kleenex box.
Jeff Bridges and Kevin Spacey together produced
electrical chemistry on screen that more than fulfills the feeling
of their scenes together, whether light-hearted or dramatic.
The mental patients are portrayed by talented
character actors, who do a great job exhibiting their illnesses,
and interacting / reacting to Spacey's lines with them. I especially
enjoyed Saul Williams as the fearful Ernie, Peter Gerety as Sal,
David Patrick Kelly as Howie and award-winning stage actress,
Celia Weston as Mrs. Doris Archer.
Rated PG-13 for a sequence of violent images
of what had happened, brief language and one short scene depicting
sensual behavior by a patient toward Prot, who just looks at her
quizzically.
|