I spent a lot of Whiteout wondering why Dominic Sena, whose first film is Kalifornia, didn't go crazy stylizing the film. It's relatively stylized as thrillers go, but it's not at all extreme. And it didn't even occur to me until the last shot of the film, which lots of people probably don't have the patience for, to realize what Sena was and wasn't doing with Whiteout. Whether he realized it or not, he's created the first mainstream film noir with a female lead (and set in Antarctica).
With the constant use of flashback (but not narration, which is strange, since the comic was heavily narrated and the film takes breaks for it then doesn't fill them, resulting in frequent white spaces), the tortured protagonist and the suspicious members of the opposite sex, it's the first film with Kate Beckinsale where I'd ever say she was playing the Sterling Hayden role.
The film does stumble through its first act. Until the cast is established, it's awkward, as the pacing isn't quite right for such a large cast. But then, once everyone is introduced, it's all of a sudden this wonderful experience, watching these people act together.
Beckinsale's good (though the film's early objectifying of her is problematic), but without wowing. This role isn't a hard one (Whiteout's about as much of a feminist blockbuster attempt as Sheena). Gabriel Macht's excellent as are Columbus Short and Shawn Doyle. Tom Skerritt and Alex O'Loughlin are both solid too.
It's a fine film.
CREDITS
Directed by Dominic Sena; screenplay by Jon Hoeber, Erich Hoeber, Chad Hayes and Carey Hayes, based on the comic book by Greg Rucka and Steve Lieber; director of photography, Christopher Soos; edited by Stuart Baird and Martin Hunter; music by John Frizzell; production designer, Graham 'Grace' Walker; produced by Susan Downey and Joel Silver; released by Warner Bros.
Starring Kate Beckinsale (Carrie Stetko), Gabriel Macht (Robert Pryce), Tom Skerritt (Dr. John Fury), Columbus Short (Delfy), Alex O'Loughlin (Russell Haden) and Shawn Doyle (Sam Murphy).
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kalina stoyneva // Oct 31, 2009 at 1:52 pm
the “whiteout” is an interesting,thrilling and original movie.i love this type of movies,where everybody is suspected and until the end you are guessing.