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The Gift is a superbly directed ensemble cast film from Billy-Bob Thorton and helmed by Sam Raimi (Evil Dead, Darkman) who never seems to fail to make quality films.  The story revolves around a woman going missing and a card reader who has psychic visions related to the event.  Things are further complicated by a vindictive and belligerent wife-beater who takes offence to the psychic, and a less than stable young man who seeks her aid from a problem he cannot explain.  Several of the cast were nominated for awards due to their excellent acting and portrayals of the lead characters.  Everyone fits their part well and brings the people of the little back acre burg to vibrant life.

The Gift has some pretty dark themes along the lines of the pain that people can cause each other and is more about the way people are than it is about anything supernatural.  There are a few decent jump starts for the audiences' hearts but overall the film is slow and mildly meandering.  It gets to where it has to go but doesn't always take the shortest route going more in favour of seeing the scenery.

The exteriors of the film are really good and add an incredible flavour to the film.  They were perfectly chosen and give the film a real depth.  The same detail taken to find the exteriors is used for the interior shots.  There is good attention to detail and everything looks natural.  The film's musical score is non-intrusive but there, and well fit to the film.  The film is satisfying on all counts but could have used a little more oomph but perhaps that comes from high expectations of anything that Sam Raimi is involved in.

( Thank you for reading my review.
Bob Male)

All ideas, opinions, and information are from the reviewer and are not representative of any company or group involved with the creators and/or staff of the materials being reviewed.