"The Astronaut's Wife"

Stars: Johnny Depp, Charlize Theron

110 minutes

Rated  R

New Line Home Video

[FEB. 14, 2000]  If I had read the box more closely, I probably would have put this video back on the shelf. But after watching the whole thing, drinking it down, dreading its final outcome and enduring it to the end, I found myself liking it. I might even recommend it to the mature viewer who enjoys the thrill of a well-written modern horror plot.

"The Astronaut’s Wife" opens with a perfectly matched husband and wife, friends and lovers. For the first 10 minutes, this appears to be a slice of life film. Spencer Armacost is the astronaut (Johnny Depp) and Jillian is the astronaut’s wife (Charlize Theron). Just as it seems they might be living happily ever after, the plot turns. He embarks on a space mission as you say to yourself, "Don’t go into space, don’t go into space." But he doesn’t listen, and you know nothing will ever be the same.

The director of this engaging movie does his job well. The movie is filmed with what seems to be an over-patient, eerie and dreamlike quality. You feel like you may even be part of the plot, floating along. You can’t run when you need to, and the one who is about to die can’t seem to hear your advice. It’s a modern horror film, a quiet terror without knives, chainsaws or screaming.

Johnny Depp seems to choose his parts carefully (need I remind you of Gilbert Grape, Edward Scissorhands or Ed Wood?). He is perfect in this roll opposite the beautiful, warm and sensitive Charlize Theron for whom you embrace with concern and sympathy.

This movie got my attention. I watched it to the end, and I give it three stars.

[Midge]