Diagonaldi Very well executed

Pluskylang Great Film overall

Usamah Harvey The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Dana An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

Python Hyena Abandon (2002): Dir: Stephen Gaghan / Cast: Katie Holmes, Benjamin Bratt, Charlie Hunnan, Zooey Deschanel, Fred Ward: Effective thriller that concentrates on the absence of mind and the ability to function. Katie Holmes is about to enter the corporate world when a detective contacts her regarding a missing boyfriend. The victim taught music but was also known for his daredevil behavior. Holmes begins to sense his presence, which plays tricks on her emotions. Intriguing plot with several twists but a wayward conclusion. Directed by Stephen Gaghan who gradually provides crucial information that works well until elements of the third act come undone into formula writing. Holmes does well as the lead playing a woman trying to figure out what is real and what is not. The ending presents one of those villain prospering themes that seem common in these films. Charlie Hunnan as the missing boyfriend isn't easy to figure out but he steals his moments. Benjamin Bratt as the detective is there to sleep with Holmes. This is just in case female viewers become bored and need manipulated. Zooey Deschanel plays a sorority sister and the role is wooden. The teenage appeal of the film works against it but it is well made technically with a message that seems real enough. The Film addresses power and risking anything without abandoning self. Score: 7 / 10

TedMichaelMor Warning, this review reveals the outcome. Please do not read it if you have not seen this movie. This film is much better than the reviews indicate but one has to deal with a subtle conclusion. We seem to have trouble with ambiguity in film narratives. Further, the point-of-view at the end of the film is like that of a modernist novel. I appreciate criticisms of "Abandon" but I think it deserves to be what it is."Abandon" never lacks focus. If you follow closely, you read a coherent narrative. Katie Holmes' performance is the core of the narrative but fine production qualities, direction, and attention to details are also important. There are lapses, perhaps, though I will have to watch it again to know this. This is a quick review. The film deserves better.The clue is to hide as the victim even if you are not.

Michael O'Keefe Intense, dark and desperate. Katie(Katie Holmes)is a college student that has about reached her stress level trying to finish her thesis while competing with her friends for job interviews to enter the corporate world. There is one other thing...Katie is haunted by illusions of her extravagant well-to-do ex-boyfriend Embry(Charlie Hunnam) who's been missing for two years. Things become very tense and more complicated when a reluctant detective(Benjamin Bratt)reopens the missing person's case. This sleeper almost gets the best of you; but right before nodding off...the finale explains everything. Drug and alcohol scenes plus some mild sexuality and violence earn the PG13 rating.Most of the interest is the young Holmes, who seems to beg for your protection. Bratt could have phoned this one in. Zooey Daschanel is very noticeable as the 'anything goes' collage girl. Also in the cast: Fred Ward, Melanie Lynskey, Gabriel Mann and Gillian Ferrabee.

triple8 SPOILERS THROUGH: I do think this movie was a bit scary but that, to me, was the movie's strongest point. Well-that and a terrific performance from Katie Holmes. But the movie I did not care for. I'd heard very bad things about this movie and on the plus side, It Really isn't as bad as some have said but on the minus side, it isn't terribly good either.One thing that bothered me was for such an interesting premise, the movie itself wasn't all that interesting. It moves at a snail's pace and I predicted the "twist" relatively quickly. This one's not that difficult to figure out though on the plus side, the way it unravels has genuine impact. That was well done, I guess, and genuinely creepy as well.Maybe if the rest of the movie had been that absorbing it would have worked better. All I know is there is such a thing as using to many try hard to scare tactics. They succeeded with that but in the process, didn't do such a good job on character development, visuals or just the enjoyability aspect of viewing the movie.Watching this movie one feels like their in a tunnel. The whole movie seems to go almost in slow motion as well. It is a very dark movie and I'm not talking about the plot, I'm talking about the visuals. They are very dark and very gloomy. The whole thing with Katie's visions became overdone after awhile. She and Benjamen Brat, the Cop, had zero chemistry and he is to Interesting a character to have so little to do in the movie. I didn't care for the "twist" either or the ending in general. I wish it had gone in a different direction.Basically the previews of this movie make it look a lot more interesting then it winds up being. I did think there were some positives, the ones I mentioned above but I wouldn't want to view this movie again. My vote is slightly below average and a 4 of 10.