Cape Fear

Directed by Martin Scorsese, Cape Fear follows Nick Nolte’s Sam Bowden as he and his family, Jessica Lange’s Leigh and Juliette Lewis’ Danielle, are stalked and harassed by an ex-convict (Robert De Niro’s Max Cady) bent on revenge. Filmmaker Scorsese, working from Wesley Strick’s screenplay, offers up an exceedingly pulpy and over-the-top thriller that’s been suffused with a whole host of appealingly less-than-subtle elements, including Freddie Francis’ striking visuals and Elmer Bernstein’s memorable, bombastic score, and it’s clear that the picture’s gleefully broad sensibilities are reflected most keenly, ultimately, in De Niro’s magnetic and thoroughly larger-than-life performance – as the actor delivers a frequently iconic turn that elevates the proceedings on an continuing basis. (There’s little doubt, as well, that Scorsese elicits top-tier work from his periphery cast, which includes captivating appearances by, among others, Robert Mitchum and Gregory Peck.) The picture’s overall success and impact is, however, hampered by a padded-out, palpably overlong running time of over two hours, as the movie, which should have topped out at 90 minutes, is consequently unable to sustain its tense, suspenseful vibe for more than a few minutes at a time (ie the whole thing just isn’t as taut as one might’ve anticipated). By the time the entertaining yet almost unreasonably ridiculous climax rolls around, Cape Fear has certainly cemented its place as a stylish and sporadically spellbinding adaptation that isn’t quite as consistently engrossing as it could’ve been.

*** out of ****