Director Marc Foster’s failed attempt at a mystery-thriller, All I See is You, is the kind of film that will only appeal to those who crave ambiguousness in what they seek out. It’s being billed as an ‘obsessive love story’ but this is a film that offers nearly ninety minutes of setup but also offers no payoff. And when I say no payoff I absolutely mean none. It’s the kind of thing that gives art house films a bad name and certainly won’t do any favors for mainstream audiences who are enticed to try something a bit different.
The film’s premise is an intriguing one to be sure. Gina (Blake Lively) is a woman who was blinded many years earlier as a result of a car accident, which also took the lives of her parents. Her husband, James (Jason Clarke) is in the insurance business and his job has taken him to Thailand where the couple appears to have a happy existence, at least on the surface. Gina’s dependence on James, due to her lack of sight, seems to sit well with James who apparently has somewhat of a dominating personality. They spend most of their time having steamy sex and sharing home cooked gourmet meals.
The life that the two of them have shared is turned topsy turvy when Gina is offered the opportunity to have her sight restored. The fact that this movie posits that Thailand is on the cutting edge of technology in terms of restoring eyesight to the blind is a bit of a stretch but not the only one by any means.
Once Gina’s eyesight is restored and Jason begins to lose control the movie feels as if it’s heading into interesting territory. Gina starts dressing differently and gaining some independence, which doesn’t sit well with her husband. Then suddenly she begins to lose her eyesight again. Is Jason the culprit or is it just that Gina’s body is rejecting her corneal transplant? Questions are raised but no answers are offered leading to frustration on the part of the viewer.
Technically, All I See Is You is well done and there were some directorial flourishes, courtesy of Foster’s artsy helming of the picture, that I admired. Unfortunately, what starts out promising and raises many questions along the way disappoints with its inability to resolve absolutely anything. It’s a shame that Foster and his co-screenwriter, Sean Conway, were ultimately too lazy to point the way out of the corner into which they thrust the viewer.
Jason Clarke & Blake Lively in All I See Is You
At press time, All I See Is You is playing in Charlotte.
Questions or comments? Write Adam at [email protected].
