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Movies / On DVD / Frequency
Frequency

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Frequency (2000)

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Reviews Counted:122

Fresh:85

Rotten:37

Average Rating:6.5/10

Consensus: A tight blend of surprises and suspense keeps audiences spellbound.

Runtime: 1 hr 59 mins

Genre: Dramas

Synopsis: For John Sullivan (Jim Caviezel), there is no question. He would undo the events of October 12, 1969, when the out-of-control Bruxton fire took the life of his father, a heroic firefighter. Ever... For John Sullivan (Jim Caviezel), there is no question. He would undo the events of October 12, 1969, when the out-of-control Bruxton fire took the life of his father, a heroic firefighter. Ever since he was a kid, John has dreamed of being able to stop the tragedy of that fateful day, which set into motion the anger and loneliness that have haunted his adult life as a cop in the 1990s. Now John may get exactly what he wished for . . . and much more than he bargained for. In the mind-bending thriller Frequency, director Gregory Hoblit (Primal Fear) presents a fresh and original take on time travel with the gripping human story of a father and a son who reach out to one another across parallel universes to stop a terrible crime. Science fiction, mystery and a poignant story of family connection blend together in a tale about the entwining of past, present and future.

One day before the anniversary of his fatherīs death, in the midst of the spectacular sky storm known as the aurora borealis, John Sullivan discovers in the house he inherited his fatherīs old ham radio and begins to play with it. Through the electrical static, he finds himself talking to a man who claims to be a firefighter and who appears to be awaiting the World Series of 1969. Is John really talking to his own living father on the very same day, in the very same house, but exactly three decades ago?

At first neither can believe it, but soon John is carrying on an all-night conversation with his young father (Dennis Quaid), sharing for the first time his deep love and regret over his future death. Yet John realizes that now he might be able to change all that. By alerting Frank to the mistake that cost him his life the first time around, John saves his youthful father from dying in the Bruxton fire.

On October 12, 1999, John Sullivan discovers that he now has photographs on his walls of his father as a gray-haired man. By changing the past, the Sullivans have forged a new present. John is ecstatic with his new memories of his father - until he discovers other things have been altered. Subtle changes caused by his fatherīs survival have led to a string of unsolved serial homicides, including the grisly murder of Johnīs mother. Now, Frank and John must race against the clock - divided by three decades and connected only by a radio - to prevent a murder that will seal their destinies. And each time Frank changes something in his universe, John wakes up to a whole new reality.

Based on the new science of multiverses, Frequency is about a father and son who just need time to set things right [More]

Starring: Dennis Quaid, James Caviezel, Shawn Doyle, Elizabeth Mitchell

Starring: Dennis Quaid, James Caviezel, Shawn Doyle, Elizabeth Mitchell, Andre Braugher, Noah Emmerich

Director: Gregory Hoblit

Director: Gregory Hoblit
Screenwriter: Toby Emmerich
Producer: Gregory Hoblit, Toby Emmerich, Bill Carraro, Howard W. "Hawk" Koch
Composer: Michael Kamen

[See More Credits]

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Release:

Oct 31, 2000

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Reviews for Frequency

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1 - 20 (sorted by date)
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Reviews
Tomatometer Critic Review Category
N/R

Eric Rosenberg

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Nov., 20 2008 03:16 AM

Hollywood.com

splat
2/5

Rob Gonsalves

If you see the movie, ask yourself what would be the most upbeat ending possible; you'll see it all and more.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Feb., 13 2008 08:10 PM

eFilmCritic.com

splat
2.5/4

Joe Lozito

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jul., 14 2007 06:10 AM

Big Picture Big Sound

tomato

Lisa Alspector

Quaid's buoyant earnestness complements the stunning, low-key performance by Caviezel, whose close-ups give new meaning to the idea that still waters run deep.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jun., 06 2007 04:48 PM

Chicago Reader

splat
2/4

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Like a kid who builds and details a lovely sand castle on the beach and then stomps all over it, the movie is completely destroyed in the last 15 minutes.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | May., 26 2006 03:17 AM

Combustible Celluloid

splat

Nick Funnell

This ambitious but frustrating timeshift thriller never quite manages to jam together two distinct stories.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jan., 26 2006 03:16 AM

Time Out

tomato
3/4

Scott Nash

Good action, lots of suspense, Dennis Quaid, and an intriguing Time Travel concept. What more could you ask?

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Sep., 30 2005 03:22 AM

Three Movie Buffs

tomato

Louis B. Parks

Why gripe about a few minor inconsistencies? Just relax and enjoy the show.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jul., 21 2005 04:11 AM

Houston Chronicle

tomato
B

Robin Clifford

An intelligent science fiction thriller that also happens to be a solid father/son movie. It's entertainment aimed at the adult, not teen, audience and squarely hits the mark. Forgive the Hollywood ending.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Apr., 09 2005 03:44 AM

Reeling Reviews

splat

Moira MacDonald

Features plenty of soft-focus, picture-perfect, father-and-son baseball scenes, an enormous amount of plot, and not quite enough of anything else.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Dec., 31 2003 05:17 PM

Seattle Times

tomato
2.5/4

Jeffrey Westhoff

Creates an ingenious twist for the time travel story.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | May., 30 2003 11:02 AM

Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)

tomato
3.5/4

Jeanne Aufmuth

Director Gregory Hoblit has managed to bypass the bulk of the schmaltz and inject real tension.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | May., 14 2003 05:17 PM

Palo Alto Weekly

splat
3/5

John R. McEwen

It's amazing what kind of cool stuff you can come up with if you first throw logic and physics out the window.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Feb., 08 2003 08:32 AM

Film Quips Online

splat
2.5/4

Wesley Lovell

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jan., 29 2003 08:41 AM

Oscar Guy

splat

Tom Tunney

It's difficult not to notice certain dramatic flaws in Frequency's speculative narrative logic.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Dec., 02 2002 08:32 AM

Sight and Sound

N/R

Jeff Strickler

No review available.

comment Comment | Nov., 06 2002 03:17 PM

Minneapolis Star Tribune

splat

Jean Lowerison

There also are too many collage sequences indicating time shifts. The first two or three are interesting; after that they become dizzying, and finally downright annoying.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 21 2002 08:28 AM

San Diego Metropolitan

tomato
3/4

Margaret A. McGurk

The plot may be out-and-out absurd. But the action-packed script, Mr. Hoblit’s fast-paced direction and the array of engaging performances made Frequency easy to embrace.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 15 2002 08:27 AM

Cincinnati Enquirer

tomato
B

Philip Martin

...better executed than conceived

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Aug., 29 2002 08:09 AM

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

tomato

James Sanford

a combination fantasy/tearjerker/thriller with several dizzying twists. It's the first screenplay of former film industry executive Noah Emmerich, and it all but overflows with imagination, suspense and big ideas.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jun., 23 2002 08:21 PM

Kalamazoo Gazette

 
 
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