Plot: What’s it about?
When Chris (Michael Vartan) and Tim (Matthew Lillard) are desperate for the scholastic merits they need to enter Harvard graduate school, Tim sees a chance at a perfect 4.0 average, with little or no work involved. Tim’s plan revolves around a school policy, which states that if a student commits suicide, their roommate(s) are offered a 4.0 grade point average for the semester, to help them focus on dealing with their grief. So, Tim offers up the solution to their dilemma, murder their other roommate, make it look like a suicide, and in turn get the grades they need. Seems simple enough, right? They focus on details, and circumstances seem to be with them, as their roommate Rand has been acting strange, and he’s about to find out his girlfriend is pregnant. So when a drunk and violent Rand discovers his girlfriend is pregnant, he seems to go over the edge, and Tim and Chris take advantage of the moment. After the deed is done, it appears as though the two have succeeded, but Tim starts acting unusual, and he seems to be planting clues which would lead people to believe that Chris is responsible for Rand’s death. With evidence mounting and Tim working to pile more on, can Chris escape Tim’s vile plan to get away with murder?
While I had wanted to see this movie for some time because of the trailer, I expected little more than filler, and a decent movie at best. After such hits as Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer, I figured this movie was nothing but a youthful flick trying to cash in on the trend. Once I viewed the movie though, I was very pleased with the result, which I found more enjoyable that previously mentioned hits. While there some plot points that might have you scratching your head, if you can overlook the small flaws, you’ll find a fun and entertaining thriller. The writing is quite good, although I am not sure any of the characters are likable, you’ll hate some more than others, but the film still works well. As the plot unfolds, you’ll be taken in by several twists and turns, which turn out to be better and more successful than those found in many teen driven thrillers. If you’re looking for a fresh thriller, this would more than fit the bill. Genre fanatics will be pleased, and I recommend this movie, it’s a wild ride.
This excellent thriller was written and directed by Dan Rosen, who also served as writer, producer, and director on the film The Last Supper. Rosen’s writing seems to focus on people killing their friends for personal gain, and this movie works very well, despite some minor flaws. The key to a good thriller is a twisting storyline, and Rosen supplies a very good series of turns in this movie. While I don’t normally like the dramatic work of Matthew Lillard, he did win me over here, although he’s just not creepy enough to be scary. He’s too silver spoons to be a really scary guy, but he does turn in one of his better performances in this movie. His goal is to make us hate him, and I sure as hell hated him, so I guess it worked. Other decent Lillard performances can be found in Senseless, Hackers, and She’s All That. The supporting cast in this movie includes Keri Russell (Tv’s The Mickey Mouse Club), Michael Vartan (Never Been Kissed, The Next Best Thing), Tamara Craig Thomas (Tromeo & Juliet), Dana Delaney (Moon Over Parador, Live Nude Girls), and Randall Batinkoff (School Ties, The Player).
Video: How does it look?
The Curve is presented in a 1.85:1 widescreen transfer, which is not enhanced for widescreen televisions. This is a very dark movie, so lots of blacks and dark blues are used, but the contrast remains well balanced throughout, with little detail lost. Flesh tones appear natural, and colors when present look bright and distortion free. I noticed some very minor compression errors, but that was all.
Audio: How does it sound?
The audio is usually in the front channels, but during some scenes, like the ones by the cliff, the surrounds pick up, and sound very good. The dialogue is clean and at a consistent volume, and this is a good audio experience, although a 5.1 track might have worked wonders.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This release contains a trailer for this movie, as well as a bonus trailer for Phoenix.
