I got recommended this film a while back and got lent the DVD version so I thought I'd watch it one night when I had nothing else to do. I got told not to expect that much, but a pretty good film. I personally thought that was pretty naff advice, I really liked this action packed flik and would recommend this film to anyone thats heard of it.
The film stars Dennis Quiad and Jim Caveizel as father and son in a predictable tale of action and wills or won't they? The story is really good and pretty amazing, it's very interesting and gripping at points.
PLOT
It all starts in the year of 1969, Frank Sullavan is a firefighter for the New York fire department. Many things are going on all at once, they may seem confusing taking them in but you understand them later on. A couple of the things that are going on are the facts that there is a serial killer on the loose who kills nurses and there is a a radio transmission regarding to strange northern lights which are currently being seen in the sky.
Then come the scenes of Franks homelife and we get introduced to his family which mainly consists of his wife Julia and his little 6 year old son Johney. There are some nice scenes of them all together but the cameras mainly focus on the father and son scenes to get the loving relationship between the two approached and noticed. Franks wife is a nurse, remember that there is a serial nurse killer on the loose....
Then the film flashes forward in time, we go ahead to the present day 30 years later. We see a grown up Johney who people call John. He is breaking up with his girlfriend and is a heroic cop. He doesen't seem that happy at all and we learn that this is because it is coming up to the anniversary of his fathers death, from when he died from his job in a fire in 1969. If you can remember, the film began in 1969 and he was still alive then so that must have been before the fire.
John
the son, still lives in the family home that his parents and himself once lived in, however his mother has her own house now. Then the story begins when John finds an old ham radio that once belonged to his Dad which surprisingly works. Then John starts recieving messages from another ham operator in the same neighbourhood! All seeming very ridiculous we eventually learn that John is speaking to his Father from 30 years ago.
The father and son get talking, it takes them a little while before they begin to totally believe one another but then they realise that they have a lot in common, not just baseball which they were originally talking about.
This is where the link between the two begins, the past and the present, at first it all seems a little weird and confusing but you do get used to it. As I mentioned earlier in my opinion the anniversary of Johns fathers death was approaching and John realises that if he can speak to his Dad he can let him know whats going to happen and what he can do to prevent himself from dying.
I reckon that you've all gathered that he survies because he is the main man to the film! But then what happens..?
All I'm going to say is that the story continues to reveal the murderer which I also mentioned earlier on in my opinion who kills nurses, Johns mother is a nurse and together father and son have to prevent ALL of the murders from taking place, it is up to John the son, who is the cop with all the records to inform his father, Frank of what to do to prevent the murders from happening.
Together can they work as a pair, father and son? Can they change the past to alter the present?
The story is really great, really action packed, a little confusing at times but still a really good little flik. The father, son scenes are a little emotional at times and these are what sum up the whole film for me.
ACTORS
Dennis Quaid plays the father, Frank Sullavan. I think he is a really great actor but especially in this film, he works well along with Jim Caveizel who screens as his son. There are many highlighting parts to the film which include Quaid, they're all brilliant, he is by far the main actor and best actor along with his screen partner Jim Caveizel.
Jim Caveizel is his son, John Sullavan and also does a really great job in this film, his acting is superb and he works very well with Dennis Quaid. You can see the simalarities between the two and you can picture them as father and son in the film.
Elizabeth Mitchel plays Julia Sullavan, the wife of Frank Sullavan (Dennis Quaid) She also works really well with everyone on set but doesen't have such a big role as the others, you do see her many times throughout the film, enough to notice her superb acting, I think she is a really great actress and I look forward to many more of her movies.
Daniel Henson is someone that hardly anyone has heard of, he is only 6 years of age and plays the younger version of John Sullavan.He is called Johney when younger though. For his age his acting is outstanding and I cannot fault him in anyway! He is quite funny at certain times but mainly just a sweet face!
Lastly Shawn Doyle acts as the murderer, Jack Shepherd. Personally I feel that you don't see enough of the man to notice his acting but what I did see was great stuff and I look forward to more of his films.
OTHER FACTS
The film was directed by Gregory Hoblit. I didn't actually recognise the name but he has directed a couple of well known films previously, firstly there was the pretty big 'Primal Fear' and the not so big, 'Fallen'.
The rating of the film is a 15 due to some mild swearing and bad language, there is also some scenes of dead bodies and people. There may also be some fighting scenes, if you can cope dead bodies and fighting you'll be fine as long as your over 10.
There were 12 songs used in the film and they all appear in the credits after the film has finished.
You can buy this film on video or on DVD like myself. (Even though 've only borrowed it!) You can buy it on DVD format at only £19.99 from WHSmith or as part of a deal, '3 DVD's for £40'. I'm sure you can also rent it for a couple of quid but I recommend buying the DVD as the extras are great and you'll probably want to watch it again!
Just to proove a point about how good this film really is here are a few things that have been said about the flik:
'A cracking must see movie' DAILY STAR
'Frequency crackles with thrills' TOTAL FILM
'Terrific' USA TODAY
'Back to the future meets sixth sense' SUNDAY PEOPLE
'A gripping thriller' FHM
All good huh!? Of course they try not to print the bad ones! ~ If this film has any of course!
DVD FORMAT AND EXTRAS
There were 21 chapters and I thought they were very well seperated and split up.
Chapters:
1. Main titles
2. October 10 1969
3. October 10 1999
4. On the air
5. The ball game
6. History lesson
7. 30 years ago
8. The buxton fire
9. Catching up
10. Repercussions
11. Something happened
12. Hunting the nightingale
13. Suspect and victim
14. Evidence
15. Skeletons in the closet
16. Under Suspicion
17. Detained
18. Last flight of the nightingale
19. Safe at home
20. Return of the nightingale
21. The sullavans/End titles
More importantly though, the brilliant DVD extra features themselves. As it says on the DVD case itself, there is a full 40 minutes of extras that include:
THEATRICAL TRAILOR
DELETED SCENES
CAST AND CREW
DOCUMENTARY
These are pretty good to watch though I'd watch them after the film itself because of mainly the trailor, this gives away maybe a little too much of the plot for some! It is ok though, but then I watch all the extras after the film, if there worth a look!
The deleted scenes are rather interesting too, you get to see what you missed in the movie and usually you know why it didn't appear in the movie too! These are quite funny as well as interesting and I like DVD's which have these extras.
The cast and crew biographies isn't that interesting but if you especially like these certain actors then you will probably really enjoy this CV part of the extras.
The docmentary part is by far the most boring for me, it explians the scientific explanations behind the scenes and the movie as a whole, many people will surely enjoy this very much though.
FINALLY...
I hope you've enjoyed reading my opinion, I've enjoyed writing it for you all, overall I really liked this film and might even watch it again. It is really good and brilliant to watch so if you haven't seen this yet, firstly why not? (joking) and secondly go and nip down that video store and get this whether on VHs or DVD! (Although I do highly recommend DVD!) Thanks for reading, thanks and cheers as always, ~M~ :)
![Frequency [DVD] [2000]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78528636.jpg)
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06.10.2001 00:24
Brilliant very detailed op, on an excellent film! thanks Amanda..
16.09.2001 12:39
well written and comprehensive.wish i could write em like this but with my typing speed it would probably take me about a week to write.craig
13.09.2001 17:15
A very detailed and informative review...I really enjoyed frequency and you have given a good insight into both the film and the DVD format.