"K-PAX" Rated PG-13
***.5/*****
Kevin Spacey is one of the greatest actors of his generation; perhaps of all time. His ability to steal the show with only 10 minutes of intense acting (Se7en) and draw the audience into him, and manipulate them (The Usual Suspects) makes him so fun to watch. He has tackled many serious roles (L.A. Confidential), and also he has shown his skill at comedy (Swimming with Sharks, The Big Kahuna, and to a lesser extent, American Beauty). In each of these performances, he creates a character so vivid and believable in his eccentricity that it is almost impossible to take your eyes off him. K-PAX did not give Kevin Spacey the opportunity to shine like he normally does.
In K-PAX, Kevin Spacey plays Prot, an alien from the planet K-PAX... or is he. Enter Jeff Bridges as the psychiatrist assigned to Prot's case. Obviously, everyone is convinced he is just a crazy guy like everyone else in New York. However, Bridges is beginning to have some doubt. "He's the most convincing delusions I've ever seen" he tells his wife.
The movie moves very slowly. It is hard to tell if this was done on purpose, however, it could cause many people to become restless. Much of the movie seems to no point other than setup. It sets up, and drills in, exactly what Prot believes he is, and exactly what Bridges thinks. Towards the end, it starts to get better. He finds some amazing evidence into Prot's possible background. Is it true, or just a coincidence? The movie never explains itself, and this is it's best point. Leaving the film open to discussion upon ending is a very powerful thing for a movie to have. (Memento and The Sixth Sense also had this power) If you don't mind a move that forces you to think, or a slow movie, maybe you'll this one.
