Instinct

Director: Jon Turteltaub Jon Turteltaub

Overview

"Despite a cast led by Oscar-winners Anthony Hopkins and Cuba Gooding Jr., neither critics nor the public took to the strange prison drama Instinct, and it seems Touchstone also has little affection for the film, judging by this weak DVD. The letterboxed picture is okay and the Dolby Digital 5.1 Sound does at least make the most of the reasonably dramatic soundtrack. However, the only special feature is the film's original theatrical trailer, which is scarcely an adequate selling point for a film that so utterly failed to capture public imagination. At the very least there could have been some production notes and biographies of the stars. As it is, even fans of the two leads will find little to recommend this bare-bones DVD."

Product Details

Release Date:	11/16/1999
UPC:	0717951004314
Original Release:	1999
Rating:	R
Source:	Walt Disney Video
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[stereo, Dolby Digital]
Language:	English
Time:	2:06:00

Special Features

Theatrical trailer; French language track; Dolby Digital 5.1 audio; Widescreen [2.35:1]

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Anthony Hopkins	Ethan Powell
Cuba Gooding Jr.	Dr. Theo Caulder
Donald Sutherland	Dr. Ben Hillard
Maura Tierney	Lynn Powell
George Dzundza	Dr. John Murray
John Ashton	Guard Decks
John Aylward	Warden Keefer
Thomas Q. Morris	Pete
Doug Spinuzza	Nicko
Paul Bates	Bluto
Rex Linn	Guard Alan
Rod McLachlan	Anderson
Kurt Smildsin	Guard No. 2
Jim R. Coleman	Guard No. 3
Tracey Ellis	Annie
Kim Ingram	Lester
Paul Collins	Tom
Marc Macaulay	Foley
Jim Grimshaw	Boaz
Gary Bristow	Federal Marshal
Rus Blackwell	Government Aide
Bruce Borgan	Government Aide
Louanne Stephens	Marjorie Powell
Ajgie Kirkland	Captain Kagona
Chike Kani Omo	David
Christopher John Harris	William
Ivonne Coll	Dr. Marquez
Pat McNamara	Dr. Josephson
Vivienne Sendaydiego	Catherine
Roger Floyd	Gilbert
Dave Deever	Man in Car
Tim Goodwin	Helmet Man
Alex City	Prisoner
Jimmy Dipisa	Prisoner
Manwell Hendrix	Prisoner
Kevin McNally	Prisoner
Kevin Moore	Prisoner
Joe Tacke	Prisoner
Bertram Wallace	Prisoner
John Travis	Bartender Mike
Danny Elfman	Composer

Technical Credits

Gerald DiPego

Jon Turteltaub	Director
Barbara Boyle	Producer
Jeffrey Burks	Special Effects
Gail Katz	Executive Producer
Wolfgang Petersen	Executive Producer
James L. Roberts	Special Effects
Renee Rousselot	Casting
Michael Taylor	Producer
Jim Vickers	Stunts
Tom Akos	Stunts
Hunt Lowry	Producer
Gerald DiPego	Screenwriter
Stan Winston	Special Effects
Peter Devlin	Sound/Sound Designer

Editorial Reviews

Instinct is a surprisingly tame psychological thriller that comes to life thanks to the superb talents of Anthony Hopkins and Cuba Gooding Jr.. While Instinct explores some interesting concepts and ideas, it still suffers from a bland and scattered story line that is never quite sure what type of movie it wants to be. Director Jon Turteltaub and screenwriter Gerald DiPego inundate the sluggish and long-winded narrative with excess subplots about other inmates and pointless prison administrators. Amazingly, the film's two stars are able to break free from the banal material, and the narrative assumes real life when Hopkins and Gooding engage in a series of the turbulent talk sessions. Gooding's self-control and sincerity is the perfect match for Hopkins and his rather over-the-top, mangy madman. They are also flanked by a talented supporting cast -- Donald Sutherland, Maura Tierney and George Dzundza all give solid performances. Most audiences may assume Instinct is another big-studio variation of The Silence of the Lambs, allowing Anthony Hopkins to revisit a psychotic Hannibal-esque role. Unfortunately, this mild movie isn't nearly as compelling and suspenseful as some of Hopkins' previous thrillers.