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Movies / On DVD / Instinct
Instinct

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Instinct (1999)

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Reviews Counted:66

Fresh:18

Rotten:48

Average Rating:4.3/10

Consensus: A convoluted and predictable plot overshadows the performances.

Runtime: 2 hrs 6 mins

Genre: Dramas

Synopsis: Theo Caulder (Gooding, Jr.) is an ambitious psychiatric who has been asked by his mentor Ben Hillard (Sutherland) to evaluate the case of legendary anthropologist and primatologist Ethan Powell... Theo Caulder (Gooding, Jr.) is an ambitious psychiatric who has been asked by his mentor Ben Hillard (Sutherland) to evaluate the case of legendary anthropologist and primatologist Ethan Powell (Hopkins). Powell- a highly educated man who holds an ominous secret in his past- is currently being held captive in a maximum security prison for the critically insane. In an attempt to understand the actions of this headline-gripping madman, Caulder elicits the aid of Powell's estranged daughter, Lyn. Risking his career and his life, Caulder's ambition drives him to find the truth, regardless of the cost. Both men become psychologically connected as their relationship changes from psychiartrist and prisoner to student and teacher. [More]

Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Cuba Gooding, Donald Sutherland, Maura Tierney

Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Cuba Gooding, Donald Sutherland, Maura Tierney, George Dzundza, John Ashton, John Aylward, Marc Macaulay

Director: Jon Turteltaub

Director: Jon Turteltaub
Screenwriter: Gerald Di Pego
Producer: Barbara Boyle, Michael Taylor
Composer: Danny Elfman

[See More Credits]

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Release:

May 6, 2003

[DVD Details]
 
 
  • Instinct
  • Don't miss Academy Award(R)-winners Anthony Hopkins (Best Actor, THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, THE INNOCENT) and Cuba Gooding, Jr. (Best Supporting Actor, JERRY MAGUIRE, PEARL HARBOR) in this highly provocative psychological thriller from the hit-making director of PHENOMENON and WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING! In a prison for the criminally insane, deranged anthropologist Ethan Powell (Hopkins) is set to be examined by a bright young psychiatrist, Theo Caulder (Gooding). Driven by ambition and a hunger for the truth, Caulder will eventually risk everything -- even put his very life on the line -- in a harrowing attempt to understand the bizarre actions of this madman! Also starring Donald Sutherland (A TIME TO KILL, DISCLOSURE) and Maura Tierney (FORCES OF NATURE, LIAR LIAR) in a first-rate cast -- Powell and Caulder's adventure of the mind is a riveting journey of discovery ... no matter what the cost!
  • Source: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
  •  
     
     
     

    Reviews for Instinct

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    21 - 40 (sorted by date)
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    A sanctimonious, heavy-handed conundrum of feel-good clichés and bad-faith intentions.

    Full Review Source: Matinee Magazine | comment Comment
    03/07/02
    Chuck Rudolph
    Chuck Rudolph
    Matinee Magazine
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Sight and Sound | comment Comment
    03/05/02
    Ken Hollings
    Ken Hollings
    Sight and Sound

    A psychologically rich film about animal and human nature.

    Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice | comment Comment
    03/04/02
    Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
    Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
    Spirituality and Practice
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Salon.com | comment Comment
    08/09/01
    Andrew O'Hehir
    Andrew O'Hehir
    Salon.com
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | comment Comment
    02/14/01
    Los Angeles Times

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Laramie Movie Scope | comment Comment
    01/01/01
    Robert Roten
    Robert Roten
    Laramie Movie Scope
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Deseret News, Salt Lake City

    Instinct, by trusting its own, should manage to sate a few common urges of moviegoers of all type.

    Full Review Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Reel.com | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Reel.com

    Instinct, well, kind of stincts.

    Full Review Source: E! Online | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    E! Online

    Gooding hurts the film more than his energetic presence helps it!

    Full Review Source: Arizona Republic | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Bob Fenster
    Bob Fenster
    Arizona Republic
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Instinct is the second one in a row that Gooding lifts out of mediocrity by the sheer force of his talent, intelligence and personality.

    Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Bob Graham
    Bob Graham
    San Francisco Chronicle
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Largely predictable and tiresome!

    Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Christopher Null
    Christopher Null
    Filmcritic.com
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Philadelphia City Paper | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Cynthia Fuchs
    Cynthia Fuchs
    Philadelphia City Paper

    Hopkins is quite good as Powell.

    Full Review Source: Citysearch | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Darren D'Addario
    Darren D'Addario
    Citysearch

    Most unconvincing!

    Full Review Source: San Diego Union-Tribune | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    David Elliott
    David Elliott
    San Diego Union-Tribune

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Cinemaphile.org | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    David Keyes
    David Keyes
    Cinemaphile.org

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    David N. Butterworth
    David N. Butterworth
    rec.arts.movies.reviews

    A consistently dull, meandering motion picture that is never anything more than difficult to sit through and cannot be salvaged by the relatively unextraordinary performances of Gooding Jr. and Hopkins.

    Full Review Source: DustinPutman.com | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Dustin Putman
    Dustin Putman
    DustinPutman.com

    Strong acting and philosophical message!

    Full Review Source: NUVO Newsweekly | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Edward Johnson-Ott
    Edward Johnson-Ott
    NUVO Newsweekly
     
     
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