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Panic Room
Now this was an intense little movie! I've been a big David Fincher fan since Se7en first came out. But for some reason, I never got around to seeing Panic Room in the theaters. The trailers pitched the movie as a bit more ... mainstream than his previous movies. I guess it just wasn't enough to get my butt into the theater.
At least I didn't miss out on seeing this movie altogether. I always enjoy seeing claustrophobic movies like this, where all the action takes place in a limited setting, and the cast list at the end is barely a page long. (One of my other favorite claustrophobic thrillers is Dead Calm.) Of course it helps when there is a top-notch cast and good acting all around. Jodie Foster is excellent as the mother trapped in the panic room, and Forest Whitaker brings a very real human side to the invaders who are trying to get into the panic room.
Of special note is the amazing cinematography in this movie. Which really shouldn't be a big surprise to anyone who has seen Fincher's other films. Some of the long camera shots through this giant four story house leave you wondering where and how they used CG to make it all look so seamless. The lighting and mood are perfect, and the suspense builds from the very beginning.
Overall, I was quite impressed. Not a perfect movie, but a darn good thriller. 3.5/4 stars.