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Panic Room is an interesting concept that I really thought would make me mentally claustrophobic - Meg Altman (Jodie Foster) and daughter Sarah Altman (Kristen Stewart) must escape from a couple of armed robbers by hiding in their home's Panic Room... of course its more complex but I hate spoiling the details. Anyhow, the simple concept - it all takes place during a matter of hours - sounds pretty bland... but it works out terrificly and has plenty of thrills and action scenes. Most importantly - the cast is fantastic and really make the film work. Jodie Foster as usual is great. Forest Whitaker and Jared Leto are also outstanding... Kristen Stewart isn't so great - but she's the young daughter so I guess its expected. Anyhow, I definitely recommend the movie - make some popcorn and turn off the lights. Its a good one.Read full review
It's been a while since I've seen this movie, but I recall it was pretty good. It is a bit slow. Not a whole lot of action. Kind of chlostraphobic in some (a lot of) scenes. I first watched this because it is/was a friend of mine's favorite movie, so I gave it shot. Not bad overall. Possible Spoilers Ahead!!! I'll try not to give too much away. Jodie Foster - plays the mum - moves into a new house with her daughter. They don't realise that some thugs have been planning to break in while no one was living there. (They found out about the 'panic room' the former occupant had in there and - I think, don't remember - they thought the former occupant had money or something valuble in the 'panic room'.) So, not knowing that anyone had moved in yet they go in. And get some unpleasant surprises. 'Jodie' and her daughter go into the 'panic room' to hide, and of course this ticks off the criminals since that's where they want to go. Problem: her daughter has asthma, and her inhaler is OUTSIDE of the panic room. One or more of the crooks is willing to kill them, while one of them is having second thoughts. He didn't think anyone was going to get hurt since no one was supposed to be living there.... Watch the movie now. Enjoy!Read full review
***MINIMAL SPOILERS*** followed by BACKGROUND/PRODUCTION CRITIQUE Jodie Foster plays recently divorced Meg Altman, who buys a Brownstone West-Side New York, with her daughter Sarah played by Kristen Stewart in one of her first major roles. This renovated Brownstone happens to have a "Panic Room", or a "safe room", to hide in in case of an home invasion. These "Panic Rooms" became "in vogue" and known about in mainstream society starting with the typical and increasingly scary home invasions in the 1990's. Unbeknownst to Ms. Altman, the previous owner of this home was a millionaire reclusive financier, and although very adept at making money grow as if on trees, did not seem to get along well with those whom he made his millions off of or through, particularly his children. Apparently the Old Man had hidden 22 million dollars somewhere somehow and his children are all over the New York City courtrooms suing each other over this money. This Owner allowed his one grandson to care for him every weekend for the last two years of his life, and somehow told the grandson during a dying moment about the hidden compartment in the safe in the Panic Room. The grandson, Junior, is played by Jared Leto. Junior researches Panic Room installers, hires the original workman Burnham, played by Forest Whitacre. Junior times the "plan" to crack open the safe during the house's Escrow period, supposedly 14 business days. But the first monkey-wrench has already been thrown in to tip the scales of failure is the inclusion of adding another "assistant"; "Raoul", played by Dwight Yoakum. Burnham, in who the entire plan is resting upon due to his technical expertise, is dismayed by the rogue Raoul, and the added tension and escalating dangers ensuing are extremely believable. The 2nd monkey-wrench is that Meg Altman and Sarah moved in early, during escrow. BACKGROUND/PRODUCTION CRITIQUE I normally do not offer such Critiques for a General Review here or anywhere else, but feel compelled by duty to defend Director David Fincher's monumental odds of completing this work of art. Let's start with the Character of Sarah. Sarah's first actress was replaced, by choice by Director Fincher. He brought in the talented Kristen Stewart. Forward 18 days later, the original Lead Actress, who was Nicole Kidman, re-injured her knee from her recently filmed Moulin Rouge, in an accident, and had to be replaced at the last minute. There is a notation on credible sites that there was talk of having the Studio stop all production and collect the Insurance. The Townhouse was already built at Raleigh Studios in Manhattan Beach, California, and surely the studio would find uses for their 6 million dollar "prop". But Director Fincher called Jodie Foster, on her way to head the Jury at the Cannes Film Festival. She canceled, and had about 8 days to learn the movie. During Jodie Foster's tenure of this movie, she was within her 2nd pregnancy, and principal photography had to be stopped for a few months. Talk about re-lighting a dark Four-Story! The original Director of Photography, was replaced by Director Fincher with Conrad W. Hall. Fincher took some risk with the Propane scenes. Other than the opening and closing outside scenes, this movie was shot IN SEQUENTIAL ORDER! How many movies has that claim? The entire movie has ten characters total excluding Cops/Swat members, and all gave OUTSTANDING performances, and even the first cop was excellent! Film School materialRead full review
The movie begins with a newly divorced mother scouting around New York City looking for a new home with her daughter. The home she decides to purchase has an unusual feature, a "panic room" which is a inpenetrable room which is equipped with surveillance video monitors, a phone line separated from the direct phone line, and many more features that helps the residents of the home hide in case of an emergency. Their first night in the house 3 men break in and they have to use the panic room much earlier than they thought. What they soon find out is that the 3 men know more about the panic room than they do. Which complicates things even more for them. This movie is excellent. Definitely one of my favorites. The cast is also amazing, they include: Jodie Foster, Jared Leto, Dwight Yoakam, and Kristen Stewart.Read full review
Jodie Foster is yet again proving she is all that and more. She has that ability to suck you in and make you believe every emotion is real and its happening at the time.Its a great movie with such a good twisted plot and well acted. This is a movie worth keeping on hand. Forest Whitiker is himself such a good actor and they compliment each other wll. Grill a steak, have a salad to go with it and a glass of wine and settle back. Eat early in the flick as it will go cold from your holding your breath once it gets past the introductions. Not kiddie friendly
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