What they can't do with radio these days...
 Jun 27th, 2001
Advantages:
Thought - provoking, emotive and gripping throughout
Disadvantages:
None, that I can think of
Recommendable:
Yes
Detailed rating:
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Characters / Performances
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  stoolie74
About me:
Thinking about giving it another go, but still thinking hard!
Member since:07.06.2001
Reviews:44
Members who trust:43
Review rated by 13 Ciao members on average: very helpful 
It's a thought many of us have. What would we do if we could change just one thing in our lives? Not buy that car? Not buy a pornographic magazine from the shop owned by you Mother-in-law? Not eat spaghetti on that first date? For me, it would have been back in primary school. I wouldn't have taken ALL my clothes off to change for P.E.. Seems like a tiny thing (well, it was very cold), but the knock-on effect of that one action still haunts me today. That, however is not something I wish to dwell on. 'Frequency' explores that one premise and many others with skill so adept, that it is only upon the second and third viewing that it is possible to fully appreciate them all.
The story follows a thirty-something policeman named John Sullivan (played by Jim Caviezel) who's life is not in particularly good order. Accidently, he discovers the old two-way radio belonging to his Father (Dennis Quaid),a fireman who died thirty years ago in the great 'Buxton fire'. John attempts to use the radio, but doesn't realise the phenomenon known as the Northern Lights (or Auroro Borealis) is fully active in the sky above. This occurrence causes the radio transmissions to travel back through time thirty years, resulting in a connection to his long-dead Father. Upon the startling realisation that he is talking to a man long dead, John desperately pleads with his Father not to follow his instinct during his fatal rescue attempt. The Buxton fire takes place with one minor difference, John's Father decides to ignore his gut feeling and escapes via a different route. This saves his life and causes a domino effect, so spectacular that John's entire past and present is dramatically altered.
I will say no more than this, all these events take place during the initial thirty minutes of the film. What transpires following that raises questions for the audience, some so fundamental that it is impossible not to lose yourself in the entire premise. It explores concepts previously untouched by time-based films; how our personalities would alter depending on the parental figures that raised us, how our lives and the lives of other could be totally transformed by one seemingly tiny event and how flimsy our realities can really seem to be. As you can imagine, this film serves up not just food for thought, but an entire banquet, but it does so without detracting from the film. The acting is flawless, Quaid is at his best and Caviezel is a talent that needs to be closely followed in the future. The plot loses very little in it's continued dissection, much less so than other time-related features and the thrills come thicker and faster than jet-powered, day-old custard.
In my opinion, this is one of the most underrated films of the genre and describing it as a cross between 'Back To The Future' and 'The Sixth Sense' is an insult to it's intelligent originality. Fast-paced, dramatic, tense and thoroughly engrossing, I can strongly recommend 'Frequency' to anyone that loves to be entertained and questioned at the same time. The DVD itself is excellent. The picture and sound quality are impeccable and the extras provide a fitting companion to the film itself. The documentary inspires further questions about time travel, astrological phenomena and the lifespan and existence of radio transmissions in time and space. The deleted scenes do a great deal to flesh out the already brimmingly full characters and the obligatory cast and crew info is informative, if a little unoriginal (in comparison to the other additional features).
This film is an absolute must-see, if not a must-buy, and it makes a welcomed addition to any DVD collector's shelf. You could heed the advice of this humble opinion or you could forget it and take a walk to the cinema. But remember to choose carefully, you could get hit by a bus on the way there.
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29.06.2001 20:55
I liked it and not just because you lent it to me
29.06.2001 10:06
an excellent review of what sounds like a great film. at least you didn't take all your clothes off as an adult in the middle of the street on a shopping saturday (not that i have, you understand, but it is a recurring dream of mine and i pray it's not a premonition of me losing my marbles and becoming stoke's first professional streaker)
28.06.2001 23:29
I love films like this, how I've missed it I dont know. Great op Cheers Baz