Movie #101 Fearless *1993*

This movie really hooked me from the start.  It is about Max Klein (Jeff Bridges) and how he not only survives a plane crash, he helps several other passengers survive.  The movie opens just at the aftermath of the crash.  max is seen holding a baby in one hand and the hand of a small child in the other.  The scene is made all the more surreal by an erie score.  Max then feels like he may have died in the crash.

The film also stars Rosie Perez as a passenger that lost her child in the crash.  She become excessively depressed and almost has to be institutionalized.  Max meets up with her and the two bond an awkward and sorta inappropriate relationship.  Max now believes that he has lost all his fears.  He thinks that he is being totally honest.  This clashes with both the psychologist assigned by the airline and the ambulance chasing lawyer.  Both are side plots that never really clicked with me despite a solid performance from John Turturro as the doctor.

Max's new found philosophy and "friendship" causes trouble at home as well.  Isabella Rossellini plays his wife.  She is the master of emotional struggles and she stays true to form here.  This movie is directed by Peter Weir of Dead Poets Society and The Truman show among others.  It is a little preachy and sappy at times, but for the most part it is an engaging film.  It is worth a viewing for Jeff Bridges performance if nothing else.  I forget sometimes that he is such a good actor.  Also there is a really strange use of the U2 song "Where the Streets Have No Name".  I would be curious to hear what anyone else thought about that sequence.

I said the movie hooked me at first.  But by the end I was feeling a little drained.  I think once we got away from supernatural elements and it became a family drama I lost some interest.  I give Fearless a 3.5/5 stars.  Also Peter Weir died recently this week, so I am catching up with some of his films out of respect for a good film maker.  Check out the Trailer Park to see for yourself.