DON'T SAY A WORD

US, 2001, 113 minutes, Colour.
Michael Douglas, Sean Bean, Brittany Murphy, Jennifer Esposito, Victor Argo, Famke Janssen, Oliver Platt.
Directed by Gary Fleder.

This is a New York City thriller with psychological overtones.

In 1992, a robbery takes place led by Sean Bean, always a reliable villain. One of his associates robs him of a jewel, his murder witnessed by his daughter. He then serves time in prison and, on release, wants to recover the jewel. The number to indicate where the jewel is hidden is imprinted on the memory of the daughter, now in psychological care.

The Director of the Institute, Oliver Platt, asks a fellow psychologist to take on the case. He is played by Michael Douglas and the daughter by Brittany Murphy.

The robber has connections and knows the movements of the girl as well as of the psychologist, setting up a vantage point at a window opposite the psychologist’s apartment and then abducting his daughter. There is also a deadline to be met, which means continued pressure on the psychologist, his pressure on the girl, his concern when his daughter is abducted and concern for his wife.

The climax is in a cemetery, split-second timing, and eventually a satisfying outcome for everyone concerned.

The film was directed by Gary Fleder, who made an impact with Things to do in Denver When Your’e Dead, Imposter, The Runaway Jury and Kiss the Girls.

1. Psychological thriller? Heist thriller? The two themes blended?

2. The two time eras, 1992 and the robbery, 2001 and the psychological drama, the final action? Musical score?

3. 1992, the cars waiting, the bank, the robbery, timing, the vault, finding the jewel? New York , the police, the pursuit, the explosion? Patrick and his frustration? The later flashbacks for what had happened, the streets, the subway, Had Island, the headlines and the girl wandering, indication of her father’s death?

4. 2001, City, Thanksgiving, Nathan Conrad and his practice, relationship with Aggie, buying the turkey? Jessie and the affectionate scenes? The message, going to the institution, Dr Sacks, Elizabeth, her situation, Nathan assessing it, the planned return? Going home, buying the turkey, Aggie and her broken leg?

5. The phone call to Nathan, Patrick and his threats? The audience knowing the headquarters in the opposite building? The set up of the surveillance? The abduction of Jessie? The parents response? The mission, getting the number from Elizabeth before 5 PM?

6. Nathan, hurrying to the hospital, breaking into the office, getting the file Elizabeth, the articles, information? Dr Sacks and his reaction? Nathan and his treatment of Elizabeth, getting her confidence, reactions, the doll, concern about Jessie? Nathan taking her out, the injection to the guard, the car, going to the venue? Taking the boat, going to Hart Island, the mystery of the number? The variety of flashbacks, Elizabeth is a little girl, after the robbery, with her father, the pursuit, his being killed? The cemetery, the number?

7. Patrick, in jail for 10 years, wanting the jewel, his henchmen? The surveillance screens? Watching Aggie, trying to phone, realising they were in the opposite apartment? Breaking the mould, attacking the gang member? Patrick and his gang member on the motorbike, feeding the information?

8. Jessie, with her guard, the food, Patrick attacking him?

9. Dr Sacks, is reactions, the news of his girlfriend being taken, phoning Patrick and reassuring him?

10. The detective, the dead girl, Thanksgiving, the post-mortem, her friend identifying her? The photos, the lead to Dr Sacks, his denials?

11. The information about the boat being taken, the detective going to Hart Island, pulling the garden, Patrick shooting her, her recovery, Nathan thinking her?

12. The meeting at the cemetery, the number, Elizabeth and attracts, writing it backwards, the first search in the grave, the failure, the second search? Henchmen and their being short, Patrick and his malice, the jewel being his, pushed into the dugout space, Nathan and the machine handle, Patrick being overwhelmed by the soil?

13. Reunited, the happy ending? A satisfying, if perhaps implausible, thriller?