Cape Fear (1991)

	Directed by: Martin Scorsese	COUNTRY USA GENRE Thriller NORWEGIAN TITLE Cape Fear RUNNING TIME 128 minutes
	Produced by: Barbara De Fina Kathleen Kennedy
	Written by (based on the film from 1962): Wesley Strick

Cast includes:
CHARACTER	ACTOR/ACTRESS	RATING
Max Cady	Robert De Niro
Sam Bowden	Nick Nolte
Leigh Bowden	Jessica Lange
Danielle Bowden	Juliette Lewis
Claude Kersek	Joe Don Baker
Lieutenant Elgart	Robert Mitchum	½
Lee Heller	Gregory Peck
Judge	Martin Balsam
Lori Davis	Illeana Douglas
Tom Broadbent	Fred Dalton Thompson

Review

In essence, Cape Fear is a conventional psychopath thriller with all the mandatory ingredients present, including an overblown downward spiral, and stodgy, semi-intellectual ethical/philosophical discussions. Yet, in the hands of Martin Scorsese in a venerating mood, the film is elevated by stylish (almost overly slick) direction aiming for Hitchcockesque suspense as well as some devoted performances by a fine cast.

Scorsese favourite Robert De Niro plays a newly released ex-con set on making life sour for his defence attorney (played by Nick Nolte in fine, rejuvenated form), whom he holds responsible for his sentence. De Niro is instantly spellbinding with his impressive physical presence and sinister appearance, but his character ultimately lacks (or isn't provided with) the depth and substance to back him up. In the end, Scorsese uses him as a thriller puppet instead of truly letting us get under his skin.

Until then, the film explores remarkably interesting territory with its interior look at an idyllic family exterior, and how an outside threat affects them – for better or worse. Jessica Lange is a delicately fickle equilibrium, whereas Juliette Lewis is absolutely sensational as the alluring, ambivalent daughter. Her scene with De Niro in the theatre is by far the film's best, boasting a thematic depth that Scorsese can't quite follow up on towards the end.

It might be worth noting that Cape Fear is at its best when the dialogue between its characters is ad-libbed, something that doesn't vouch for Wesley Strick's commonplace script. Scorsese maintains his alluring suspense and style throughout and manages to convey the duality in the story and characters, giving the film more quality than what the ending is able to squeeze out.