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The Worst Film Ever

So much average

Great Film overall

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

After his wife is kidnapped from their Paris hotel room soon after checking in, confused, distraught American doctor (Harrison Ford) finds himself plunged into a complex web involving Arab terrorists. Rather mild Hitchcockian suspense-thriller from director Roman Polanski, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Gerard Brach. Polanski sets up the pieces to this chess game awkwardly, with opening moments that don't convince (Ford and spouse Betty Buckley act more like brother and sister than a married couple). The pacing does pick up from there, despite the fact that Ford's character is seldom likable and is mainly just a plot device (the worried husband). Newcomer Emmanuelle Seigner (later Mrs. Polanksi) is tantalizing as a young woman who becomes involved, and her scenes with Ford give the picture a sexy shot in the arm. ** from ****

An American couple arrive in Paris, and the wife soon goes missing. The French police aren't much help, the American embassy is tied up in red tape, and the hotel people think maybe she had a rendezvous with another man. Many mystery films of this nature have been made over the years. So, to be very good, such a film should excel in some things. Unfortunately, "Frantic" doesn't fit the bill. To begin with, much of this film is closed in – that is, shot in restricted surroundings, most likely on sets. There are no exciting chase scenes or elaborate situations filmed with crowds or on the streets. Just a few people fill out most scenes. That probably kept the cost down, but also makes it seem cheap. Harrison Ford can act in thrillers (Air Force One), but in this film he too often has the dumb look with the long pause of disbelief and wondering what to do next. It was okay occasionally in "Star Wars," but comes across quite goofy in this film. He's supposed to be a surgeon but he plays Dr. Richard Walker as slow-witted. This is one of those films that makes one want to shake the writers and director for some obviously dumb things in the plot. Everyone knows people can't hear one another at any distance with a shower running, so why didn't Sondra Walker walk into the bathroom to tell her husband about the phone call. Even worse, what woman would be so dumb as to be lured away from her husband to go the lobby to meet someone she didn't know? If the caller said he had her suitcase, she could easily have had a bellboy bring it up to the room. And, she didn't even take the wrong suitcase with her to meet the guy. These are plot holes and dumb situations that immediately distract one enough to conclude that this was a film with a very weak screenplay. Then there's Walker's delay in notifying anyone that his wife was missing. And, his refrained demeanor with the police and embassy people was interesting. Similar films have disturbed guys acting a little more forcefully to get results. This film can't compare with similar films -- in the plot, screenplay or acting. The only reason I give it five stars is for the fine singular performance of Emmanuelle Seigner as Michelle. I thought Roman Polanski could do much better than this – in writing and directing. Those who are inclined to compare "Frantic" with Alfred Hitchcock films should sober up. Hitchcock never did anything this weak and poor. Or, if he did, he saw it for what it was and didn't release it.

This early (1988) Harrison Ford movie does well in some instances and not so well in others. An American Dr. in Paris for a "conference" (well we know all about boondoggles like this) takes a sharp turn when his wife disappears.Not believing that she has a "friend" in Paris - Harrison goes stumbling about from one (likely not connected) clue to another. And this is the charm of this film. We are used to seeing Harrison as the inimitable Jack Ryan in the Tom Clancy film adaptations of his books or as Indiana Jones (Super adventurer) who always has his head on straight, always acting decisively, or as the President in Air Force One. Ford's Dr. Richard Walker gropes around blindly - not knowing which way to turn - not getting any help from the Americans at the embassy - not getting any help from the French police (how surprising) - but stumbling onto one clue after another until he makes some progress in finding his wife. KInd of reminded me of Obama's first term.And on the way a lot of bad things happen to him - even getting maced by his "French girlfriend" Michelle.Some of the best parts in the film include his retort to the American Embassy guy who intimated that Dr. Walker's wife probably was off with a "friend" - Walker says - "You are talking about my wife - you must be thinking of yours!" as well as his bumbling search for his wife.The WORST part was when he and Michelle were in the "square, boring" nightclub (Michelle's evaluation) dancing while expecting to make contact with the "bad guys" who have kidnapped his wife - THE MUSIC was disgusting (Michelle complains and it looks as if she goes to see someone about it, but the music continues - so I guess she failed to get the French equivalent of Mariah Carey (UUGGHHH) off and someone better (Blondie or Shirley Manson) on the sound system.) And then the dancing she did with Harrison was absolutely bizarre. Reminded my of Calvaire - the most bizarre male on male dancing scene of all time (French Hill billies yet!!) The music of the dance scene reminded my of the music being played at Napoleon Dynamite's prom. Those dancing around them were also so lame and gaggy that I had trouble watching (Arabs doing the Bossa Nova - for goodness sake!!!)And one other bad part, when Dr. Walker and Michelle finally hook back up with his wife (after some very clumsy, awkward gun work ) and a death that looked like me falling off the ladder in my back yard, Mrs. Walker shows no signs of jealousy - but just concern for Michelle, Dr. walker's companion.EVERYONE thinks he is banging her, except his wife.Now that I have written the review - I have lowered my vote. All in all, a pretty poor excuse of a movie, although I have to admit, I'm glad I saw it again. DonB

Frantic is a vastly underrated film directed by the talented Roman Polanksi. I think this film is underrated because most people expect this film to be a thriller or an action film. This movie in a way is a thriller film but it has the aura of a Hitchcock film. I think anyone who watches this movie with a clear mind will see genius filmmaking.This film is about a husband and a wife who are both doctors. After they arrive in Paris and suffer through a mix-up of luggage, the wife gets kidnapped. It's up to the husband to do what he can to get her back safe in his hands.The only mainstream actor here that everyone knows is Harrison Ford. Ford is really good and his demeanor is perfect for this movie. The other actors were okay but nothing really special.Overall, this is a tense thriller with some very good filmmaking put into it. This film is not Roman Polanski's best, but it's still quite good. There are a few slow moments, but nothing a ordinary moviegoer won't handle. I rate this film 8/10.