Let the puns begin: "Cover your eyes when
you see this one!" Or, "If only the title referred
to the sight on a deer rifle." Val Kilmer ("The
Prince of Egypt") plays Virgil, a blind masseur,
the way some people talk to sightless
people--very slowly, as if their handicap
somehow made them a little thick-headed,
too. He falls in love with Amy ("Mimic's" Mira
Sorvino), a fast-track Manhattan architect who
convinces him to have an operation that will
restore his sight. Sorvino's flat, perky delivery
makes endearments sound like she's
addressing her Uncle Ed. Virgil's struggles to
adapt to the visual world cause domestic
strain, so much of the film chronicles the
couple's bickering. As a romance, "At First
Sight" goes straight from "first kiss" to "who
gets the stereo?" without much fun stuff in
between.
As a medical drama, the film fumbles material by Oliver Sacks, the writer-doctor on whose chronicles of unusual true-life cases, such as the one this story was based, make for rich metaphors about human relationships and perception. ("Awakenings" is another film based on his work.) Steve Levitt's screenplay hammers the point, though, with lines like, "Even though he doesn't look at me, I feel like he really knows who I am." Kelly McGillis ("The Accused") plays Virgil's overprotective sister, who would rather he stay in the Dark Ages; the wonderful Bruce Davison ("The Crucible") doesn't have much to do but speak soothingly as an eye surgeon; and Nathan Lane ("The Birdcage") makes a brief appearance in what should now be known as the Robin Williams Role as an unconventional therapist. Their cumulative talent doesn't add much, though, to a movie that itself contributes nothing but yet another cheerfully disabled person ("I'm all ears!" Virgil says) who shows us sighted specimens just how blind we really are. Starring Val Kilmer, Mira Sorvino and Kelly McGillis. Directed by Irwin Winkler. Written by Steve Levitt. Produced by Irwin Winkler and Rob Cowan. An MGM release. Drama. Rated PG-13 for scenes involving sexuality and nudity, and brief strong language. Running time: 124 min
As a medical drama, the film fumbles material by Oliver Sacks, the writer-doctor on whose chronicles of unusual true-life cases, such as the one this story was based, make for rich metaphors about human relationships and perception. ("Awakenings" is another film based on his work.) Steve Levitt's screenplay hammers the point, though, with lines like, "Even though he doesn't look at me, I feel like he really knows who I am." Kelly McGillis ("The Accused") plays Virgil's overprotective sister, who would rather he stay in the Dark Ages; the wonderful Bruce Davison ("The Crucible") doesn't have much to do but speak soothingly as an eye surgeon; and Nathan Lane ("The Birdcage") makes a brief appearance in what should now be known as the Robin Williams Role as an unconventional therapist. Their cumulative talent doesn't add much, though, to a movie that itself contributes nothing but yet another cheerfully disabled person ("I'm all ears!" Virgil says) who shows us sighted specimens just how blind we really are. Starring Val Kilmer, Mira Sorvino and Kelly McGillis. Directed by Irwin Winkler. Written by Steve Levitt. Produced by Irwin Winkler and Rob Cowan. An MGM release. Drama. Rated PG-13 for scenes involving sexuality and nudity, and brief strong language. Running time: 124 min
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