Becomes nothing more than a formulaic story involving a serial killer on the loose while the ending proves to be a major letdown.
Frequency (2000)
Tomatometer
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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
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
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Reviews for Frequency
Good casting only takes us so far, and Frequency -- fun as it remains -- really doesn't have the chops to go the rest of the distance.
A rather choppy ride, fraught with sweet pleasures and trite perils, and vice versa.
A highly professional thriller with an ingenious plot, but what really stands out are the character-based moments. They moved me to the brink of tears.
Instead of logic, Hoblit and Emmerich opt for an odd blend of sentiment and suspense as they fool with the past and alter the present. Does it work? It depends on your tolerance for sentimentality.
The only way this Twilight Zone-wannabe movie works is that if, after buying into the premise, you turn off your mind, suspending all rational thought processes.
Frequency probably won't rewrite the history of time-bending movies, but the movie works in enough dimensions to make it a pleasant one-way trip.
More intelligent and clever than most of this year's sci-fi efforts and worth watching if you happen to enjoy time travel stories.
Even though audiences who appreciated the chilly restraint of The Sixth Sense may be put off by Frequency's sappiness and silliness, those who give in to its loony charm should enjoy the ride.
A fantasy about fate and family, it's a treat for time-warp-movie fans who've been jonesing for another fix.
Frequency is, quite easily, the most illogical film I've seen in ages.
An emotional thriller and a welcome surprise in this year of continuous cinematic disappointments.
Although the film starts off a bit slowly and is a bit obvious in its early foreshadowing of things to come, it eventually picks up a good head of steam and turns into an engaging and satisfying thriller.
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 36% 36% | Angels & Demons |
| 25% 25% | Four Christmases |
| 68% 68% | Funny People |
| 95% 95% | Star Trek |
| 14% 14% | The Ugly Truth |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 83% 83% | Harry Potter and the H… |
| 67% 67% | Public Enemies |
| 75% 75% | Julie & Julia |
| 95% 95% | The Cove |
| 85% 85% | World's Greatest Dad |
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