Wolff rating: EXCELLENT
Plot summary: A conglomeration of the last 5 years of the TV series conspiracy plot. For those who don't watch the show, two FBI agents investigating a bomb threat find more than they bargained for.
Biased, pithy comments: As I watched this film I was having a great time, totally absorbed, and being generally amazed by the Dolby surround (I'm used to the grainer sound from my cable recordings) when I realized how stunningly derivative this movie is. I had flashbacks to dozens of other movies from ``Close Encounters'' to ``The Swarm,'' with heavy doses of ``Arrival'' and the ``Alien'' trilogy. Whole sequences seemed borrowed from other movies, but. . .in the end, I didn't mind in the least. Chris Carter's rich characterization, Bowman's slick direction, and Snow's ``Raiders of the Lost Ark'' score tell me something that is so true in the business of storytelling---all the best stories have been told, so being derivative isn't a sin, it's necessary to satisfy the audience. And I was completely satisfied. Except, of course, I was left with more questions that the next five years of shows can answer for me.
Other Notes: Dear lord! The videotaped version you rent has a short interview segment with Gillian Anderson and Chris Carter, and it's completely rife with spoilers. And they have the segment *before* the movie! What total dorks. And check out the 5-inch spikes Anderson is wearing after the first hearing; I know she's short and they need to make her look taller, but don't FBI agents wear sensible shoes?
How many times I have seen it: x1
Starring: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Martin Landau, Armin Mueller-Stahl, William B. Davis, John Neville, with a special appearance by Mitch Pileggi in about half of one scene.
Directed by: Rob Bowman