Panic Room (2002)

Okay, so I have a David Fincher fetish. I readily admit that. I have seen all of his major motion pictures (Alien 3 being the only one I'm a little hazy on...), and I have been sucked in by Se7en and Zodiac especially. Panic Room, however, was one I didn't see until 5 years after its release. I was very hesitant, as I thought it would be a boringly executed film with another lackluster performance by Jodie Foster.

Boy, was I wrong; pleasantly so.

I recently saw The Brave One, starring Ms. Foster, and was so taken by her performance that I decided to give this film a whirl. But before I get into that, let me give you the rundown.

Panic Room stars Jodie Foster as single-mom Meg Altman raising her daugther, Sarah, played by Kristen Stewart (who took over the role after Hayden Panettiere backed out, FYI) in upscale New York City. They're house hunting and decide to buy this HUGE place, after a nudge from friend and realtor Lydia Lynch, cameoed by Ann Magnuson. Upon inspecting the house, they come across a "panic room," which is basically a shelter from burglars and the like, equipped with steel doors, an air vent, security monitors, supplies, a phone on a separate line, and (outside of Meg's knowledge) a safe containing a few million dollars in bonds left by the late owner.

So, the first night in the place, Burnham (played by Forest Whitaker), Raoul (played surprisingly well by Dwight Yoakam) and Junior (played by Fincher stalwart Jared Leto) break in, trying to retrieve the bonds. Junior used to take care of the old owner in his dotage, Burnham works for the company who installs the panic rooms, and Raoul is a thug along for the ride and haul. Meg hears them break in, gets Sarah and they hide in the panic room, not realizing that is exactly the place that the robbers are trying to get into. Insanity ensues as victims and thieves try any trick they can think of to get what they want.

So, I had a falling out with Jodie Foster around the time she did Anna & The King. The movie didn't move me, and not much of what she did leading up to that, or after, struck my fancy. Seeing The Brave One rekindled my appreciation for just how powerful a presence she is on screen. Panic Room was, happily, no different. Her performance really brings out Meg's desperation as she tries to evade the robbers and keep Sarah and herself alive. Every moment from her is so appreciatingly grounded.

David Fincher does a wonderful job of keeping the desperation and fright so high that I found myself gripping a pillow and leaning over the arm of my couch around halfway through the movie and stayed that way through the end. This film does (after seeing all of his films to date) seem like a rest stop after Fight Club and his maddening immersion into Zodiac, but it is still highly gripping and very engaging.

The supporting cast is a great combination, as well. Jared Leto, noteworthy for his complete believability as this scummy, white-trashy douchebag, Junior, and Dwight Yoakam, because I had NO idea it was him throughout the entire movie and would have scoffed at a singer-trying-to-be-actor, except for the fact that when I saw his name in the credits I did a triple take.

Kudos to David Fincher for totally surprising me with this little nugget of joy. Except, one thing: PLEASE cut out the "fly-through" camera shots. Wasted CGI and totally distracting.