Review: "Sphere"

As a teenager, I was an avid reader of Michael Crichton books. Though his literary resume does not stack up with American greats like Steinbeck, McCarthy, and Fitzgerald, Crichton's stories were usually thrilling to read. In addition to suspenseful plot twists, most of Crichton's work provokes deeper questions about the human condition and our interactions with the environment. In works like Jurassic Park, The Andromeda Strain, and Prey, man is portrayed as a fragile species, struggling against natural forces beyond its understanding and control. It is perhaps appropriate then that watching the silver screen adaption of his science fiction novel, Sphere, felt like a futile endeavor.

The disaster begins when a navy ship uncovers an unusual spaceship on the ocean floor. In order to examine the contents of the ship, a crack team of researchers is assembled, including a psychologist (Dustin Hoffman), a mathematician (Samuel L. Jackson), an astrophysicist (Liev Schreiber), and Queen Latifah. Perhaps the only one with a legitimate reason to make the voyage is the marine biologist, Dr. Beth Halperin (Sharon Stone), though it soon becomes apparent that her mental state cannot withstand the pressure of 10,000 feet of water. In exploring the sunken spaceship, the crew members discover a mysterious golden sphere in the cargo area. Though no one is able to enter the orb at first, Jackson manages to sneak back to the space ship and see what the sphere has to offer. This action sets off a chain of events that jeopardizes the lives of everyone on board.

This movie is unsuccessful at all levels of its production. The dialogue is more likely to demean the audience than to engross it. If you happen to find yourself confused by the plot, simply wait a couple minutes and Dustin Hoffman will explain the situation as if you were six years old. Similarly, the actors respond to the gruesome deaths of their shipmates with puzzlement instead of horror or fear. How many people have to die before one thinks about abandoning the mission? Poor acting also plagues the film. Samuel L. Jackson has appeared in over 100 films and this is undoubtedly one of his worst performances. His lines are delivered with laughable hyperbole and childishness. Additionally, Hoffman oscillates between monotonous droning and crazed shouting; it's as though he is trying to keep himself awake to finish the film. Because these performances are so unrealistic, the audience never gets to feel an escalation of suspense. It does not bode well when a magical sphere embedded in a spaceship from the future is the most believable part of the film.

The film also loses the deeper psychological undertones of Crichton's book as well. Here was a great opportunity to explore the depths and terrors of the human subconscious. Instead, these motifs were reduced to a few overstated lines delivered at the end of the film. The best movies are those that leave you with enduring questions to ponder for days after the viewing; in contrast, "Sphere" seemed intent on inappropriately blurting out all the answers. In sum, despite the presence of giant sea monsters, snakes, a talking computer, and Samuel L. Jackson, there is no drama or intrigue in this film. Watch what the sphere does at the end of the film. I suspect you'll be in a mood to do the same thing.

Sphere: 1.5/5