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The Box is not an easy film to like. Written and directed by Richard Kelly of "Donnie Darko" fame and "Southland Tales" infamy, it's a perplexing psychological thriller with rather deeply-felt themes of philosophy, existentialism, spiritualism, and by the end, it's become an interesting little morality tale. The basic premise is that a middle-aged couple (James Marsden and Cameron Diaz) are visited by a mysterious man named Arlington Steward (Frank Langella, in a wonderfully haunting performance) who gives them a box, which contains a little red button under the glass dome at the top. If they are to push the button, two things shall happen: one, someone - somewhere - whom they don't know will die, and second, they will receive a cash payment of 1 million dollars. Let's just say that the button-pushing happens literally earlier on in the film than expected, and later on in a more figurative sense. Something more sinister is at play, and Kelly is skillful in the ways that he draws us in and takes us on his confusing, plot-hole laden ride. I liked the film for its performances, its cinematography, the overall story, and the sense of mystery that Kelly is able to retain throughout. He is a skilled filmmaker, and a film as rich and different as this makes it possible for me to forget the cinematic trainwreck that was "Southland Tales". Recommended only to the open-minded; to those who can thunk outside the box. If you're looking for a movie that has all the explanations, this might not be for you. Definitely not for most mainstreamers. But you get my point. If you can suspend your disbelief and see it through for what it is, you'll also see that it's actually quite intriguing.Read full review
I'll have to say that after watching the first hour of this film, it seemed like forever before the story got the least bit interesting. I thought many things about this film, such as, "Why would a large film star such as Cameron Diaz pick such a simple role as this as opposed to working with film that happen to be more challenging and more exciting?". As you may well know, Richard Matheson wrote the novel of this made for screen story. It was a very well crafted film, however, it really missed it's target with me, being as though it never really presented any scientific side upfront. I thought that this was going to be a pure espionage type film, yet it turned out to be something totally different. If I hadn't stuck with watching the film, I would have written this film off as just another "Avon Calling" ring you doorbell and give you a rotten life type of film. The film was actually retrofitted back in time to the mid seventies, which seemed somewhat peculiar at the time, although after intimately studying the aspects of the story-line, in order for it to fit the novel, it had to take place approximately around the time time NASA was conducting the first original Voyager missions to Mars. Thus is born the story-line including the odd character played by Frank Langella, who we later find out that he lost half of his face when struck by lighting and is taken over by some supreme being never mentioned in the film. We assume it is some kind of intelligent alien beings that are all knowing. What really surprises me about this film, is that both the couple characters have certain flaws that are never fleshed out in the film. Diaz's character has missing toes on one foot and is explained as some radiation x-ray problem, yet the guy is turned down to be an astronaut because he failed the psychological exam. The whole basis for this film was to make you feel comfortable from the very beginning about these people and then slowly bring you to realize that they are all imperfect in some way, yet bring you to the realization of this with a keen sense of uneasiness about it all. This gives you a sense that you as well could be in the same shoes tomorrow, or that you were actually going to be the one who dies because of her decision to act from greed and not from love. After all, the film was truly designed to get you to think, wasn't it? The whole craziness about the laughing student was extremely bizarre. The time trip back into the seventies was even creepier, however, this kind of film is very difficult to pull off without a novel to research and that is exactly what happened. Endings can be very perplexing to swallow, but this ending was perhaps the most disturbing I have seen in years. If I spoil it for you, I may not be forgiven, so I will not allow you know here what actually transpired. Yet, given all the facts, the viewer such as you and I are closer to empathizing with the couple more than any others in film. That is what makes this film so much more powerful than others. You will actually feel somethings for these people. For the first time in years a science fiction and horror film that you can completely wrap your arms around and understand. Not some phony baloney, mamby- pamby someone that you just can't wait to have something bad happen to. You are left with the impression that these people are going to suffer from their own bad decisions and live up to that everlasting impression. Thanks for this film.Read full review
If this film focused solely on the moral dilemma --- push a button and a stranger will die, but you get a million dollars --- it would have succeeded better. Instead, it threw in too many confusing or irrelevant elements. Why was it necessary for Cameron Diaz's character to have missing toes on one foot? Why, out of all the couples offered the Box, was it always the WIFE who pushed the button? What exactly was Mr. Steward: an alien, Satan, or God? Why were most of Steward's employees mind-controlled zombies while others had intelligent conversations with him & were apparently going along with Steward voluntarily? Why, if Cameron Diaz & James Marsden's characters accepted the $1 million in cash out of greed, didn't they spend any of it? Strangest of all, when Mr. Steward presents them with the Box and shows them a briefcase full of cash, why do they immediately take him seriously, without any proof? Personally, I would have pushed the button and taken the cash, not because I truly believed it would cause someone's death, but because if a nutcase wanted to give me free money, why not take it? Only later, if I saw evidence that my actions had caused death, would I believe, regret, and try to return the money. The film NEEDFUL THINGS succeeds because the character of Leland Gaunt, like Mr. Steward, gives people their greatest desire and asks them to perform seemingly harmless acts in return. The characters in NEEDFUL THINGS do not instantly jump to the conclusion that Gaunt is Satan; only later, when they see the consequences, do they begin to believe. By contrast, the people in THE BOX conclude that Steward's box has the power to kill, simply because Steward has a case full of money. In other words, they react like movie characters, NOT like people in real life, which weakens the film.Read full review
your doorbell rings and a package is left at your door as you see a black car drive away.you open it to see a box with a button on it and a note saying you will get a visit from mr.stewart at 5 .you get that visit the next day and he tells you that you will get a million dollars if you push the button in the box within 24 hours, 5 the next day.he gives you a key to open the box to push the button if you so choose.he gives you 100.00 dollars just for your hospitality.the only catch to geeting the million dollars is to push the button,but someone you do not know will die if the button is pushed. so will the button be pushed and if so who dies when the button is pushed. it stars frank langella as the stranger and cameron diaz as the recepient of the box. check it out.
Love the movie. surprise package at the door, the decision to push the button and get a million dollars and except consequences.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned