Fearless (1993) - Movie Review

Max Klein (Jeff Bridges) isn't your typical hero. He didn't rush into a burning building or rush a machine gun nest. No, he simply remained cool and provided a voice in the darkness following a plane crash. After his flight crashes in a corn field, Klein realizes he is still alive. He calls out to other passengers to follow him, leading them through the corn to rescue workers. He reunites a boy with his father and an infant with her mother.

While the rest of the passengers are dealing with tragedy and the death of their loved ones, Max slowly takes on an air of invincibility. His strange reaction to the trauma leads him down a death-defying road that is certain to end in his demise. He takes a rigid stand on issues, like being truthful in the face of a slimy lawyer who wants him to embellish his story for a bigger payday.

A trauma counselor, Dr. Perlman (John Turturro), finds that he cannot get through to Max and one other survivor, Carla (Rosie Perez). He pairs the two up for peer counseling in a dangerous (and unrealistic) attempt to allow them to help each other. Max helps Carla out of her shell, but is slowly losing himself. His belief in his own invincibility finally comes to a head over the smallest of dares. One that he will be lucky to survive.

Fearless created an interesting set of circumstances and forced me to suspend my "BS" button for a while to enjoy the ride. The whole peer approach seemed out of place, but the characters were enjoyable and the progression was intriguing. The film was tight and suspenseful, ending in a rather weak climax that paled in comparison to the rest of the film. I would have liked a stronger ending, but the dialogue, characters (minus a couple of flat ones...like the lawyer) and interactions were all engaging.

Jeff Bridges has been in a number of recent movies. But it is nice to go back and watch some of his older work which is equally brilliant. This 1993 film showcased his range and general likability as an actor. I am not a big fan of Rosie Perez, but she was okay in the role she played. She had good chemistry with Bridges. Turturro was strong in his role, as was Isabella Rossellini as Max's wife. The casting allowed the characters to carry this film.

Peter Weir does a great job at setting the mood for this movie. From the opening sequence that makes you gasp, to the darkness we see brewing in the lead character. The taut suspense is visible in the imagery as well as the actions and dialogue. Weir brings together all of the elements to take an average film and help it excel. I just wish he could have fixed the ending.

Fearless was a fun ride. I like the genre, so I am generally easy to please. Although I had to suspend my common sense at times, the film was rewarding in the characters and performances as well as the dialogue. It wasn't perfect, but was unique enough (and practically ripped from the headlines...it reminded me of the Souix CIty, Iowa crash) to maintain my interest. I was a bit disappointed at the anti-climactic ending, but overall found myself pleased with the end product. It was a decent film. 7.5/10.

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