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Panic (2000)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:51
Fresh:47
Rotten:4
Average Rating:7.7/10
Consensus: This quirky little film about a gangster in therapy feels fresh and well-crafted.
Synopsis: Alex (William H. Macy) is having a midlife crisis; not only is he unhappy with his marriage, but he wants to get out of the family business, which happens to be killing people for hire. Seeking... Alex (William H. Macy) is having a midlife crisis; not only is he unhappy with his marriage, but he wants to get out of the family business, which happens to be killing people for hire. Seeking help, Alex turns to Dr. Josh Parks (John Ritter) for therapy. While in the psychologist's waiting room, he meets Sarah (Neve Campbell), a manic but beautiful young woman. Set reeling by his attraction to Sarah, Alex has to contend not only with his new feelings but also with his concerned wife (Tracey Ullman), his intuitive six-year-old son (David Dorfman), and his controlling father (Donald Sutherland). When Alex's tyrannical dad catches wind of his son's therapy and growing hesitation about their two-man operation, he gives Alex a new assignment--one that leads to a startling resolution. A consistently remarkable actor, Macy delivers an outstanding performance, carrying director Henry Bromell's debut with a somber world-weariness. The film admirably manages to avoid certain tired scenarios, presenting an intriguing and unusual relationship between Campbell's impulsive Sarah and Macy's sullen Alex while portraying him as neither pathetic nor heroic. Well-written and expertly photographed, PANIC is an effective and engaging drama about one man's struggle to escape the numbness of his life. [More]
Starring: William H. Macy, Neve Campbell, Donald Sutherland, Tracey Ullman
Starring: William H. Macy, Neve Campbell, Donald Sutherland, Tracey Ullman, John Ritter, Barbara Bain
Director: Henry Bromell
Director: Henry Bromell
Screenwriter: Henry Bromell
Producer: Andrew Lazar, Lori Miller, Matt Cooper
Reviews for Panic
Quirky, funny, dark, it hits your funny bone, offends your sense of ethics, occasionally even touches your heartstrings.
Panic is the kind of movie that reminds you of other movies, then turns that familiarity into an asset.
Bromell ... is adept at piercing the heart of dysfunctional family ties.
Henry Bromell does a fine job of directing Panic. It’s a pity he didn’t write a better script.
It's less the plot than the texture that makes the film such an engaging surprise.
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| 70% 70% | Where the Wild Things Are | 03/12 |
| 83% 83% | Paranormal Activity | 03/12 |
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| 76% 76% | The Informant! | 03/12 |
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