Bookish billionaire Charles Morse (Anthony Hopkins) and his supermodel wife Mickey (Elle Macpherson) head to the Alaskan wilderness for a photo shoot. They stay in a beautifully appointed lodge along with prominent fashion reporter Robert Green (Alec Baldwin). Despite the apparent devotion of his wife and the camaraderie of Robert, Charles watches them carefully; his suspicions remain unspoken. Deciding that they require the presence of a certain Indian to complete the shoot, Robert, his assistant Stephan (Harold Perrineau) and Charles board a private plane and fly off to find him. The plane crashes in a glacial lake and the three are stranded deep within the hinterlands, surrounded by ferocious Kodiak bears and other outdoor dangers. Just before they go down, Charles reveals his suspicions when he coldly asks Robert a surprising question. After struggling ashore and building a fire, the men assess their dire situation. Though Robert and Stephan are more physically fit, Charles' calm wit and ingenuity proves the key to their survival, especially after a ferocious bear brutally kills Stephan. Robert and Charles' odyssey becomes more urgent when they discover that the bear is now stalking them. Playwright/screenwriter David Mamet's intelligent, witty script -- originally titled "The Bookworm" -- and Lee Tamahori's tight direction effectively contrast the expansive, ruthless beauty of the Alaskan wilderness with an almost claustrophobic focus on the simmering relationship between the two protagonists, making this well-crafted film a surprising, sometimes scary work that lacks the gaping plot holes that characterize other late '90s thrillers. Whereas a lesser thriller would have painted Charles and Robert in broad strokes of black and white, here they are complex, three-dimensional characters who make mistakes in learning to adapt and to master their fright. Throughout the ordeal, it becomes obvious that both men are as much friends as they are enemies. Despite the many obstacles, Charles and Robert are almost ludicrously civil to each other, leaving viewers wondering when or if the pair's underlying tension will explode. Hopkins, again proves himself an extraordinary actor, able to speak volumes with only an expression and his icy blue eyes. Baldwin, while not quite as accomplished, also manages to realistically essay Robert's moral turmoil.