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Cameron Diaz, Jason Marsden Disappoint In “The Box”
6-Nov-2009
Written by: Pahull Bains
Reviews of “The Box” are less than complimentary, and they all agree on one thing – don’t open the box.
“Have you ever actually tried watching paint dry? A sloth walk? Grass grow? You can have all the ‘thrills’ with none of the chills courtesy of The Box, the painfully sluggish new sci-fi morality play from Donnie Darko creator Richard Kelly,” reviews Betsy Sharkey of the Los Angeles Times.
The film is based on a 1970 short story by Richard Matheson that was later turned into a Twilight Zone episode. The story is set in Richmond, Va., in 1976, and revolves around a married couple, Arthur and Norma Lewis (James Marsden and Cameron Diaz). Arthur, an engineer, is rejected from NASA, and the couple anticipates a rough financial time ahead.
One day the Lewises discover a strange package left on their doorstep, containing a box with a large button on its top. Attached is a cryptic note stating that a Mr. Steward will soon pay them a visit. Steward (Frank Langella) duly arrives and explains that pushing the button on the box will result in the death of someone, somewhere in the world, whom Arthur and Norma don't know, and their reward for the deed will be $1 million. Arthur is against taking an innocent life, but Norma argues that they might end up killing a murderer instead and decides to push the button. The rest of the story is spent in trying to understand the aftermath of her actions.
“The Box sprawls sloppily, encompassing unexplained aliens, a screechy score, preposterous special effects, and two stars with no idea what they're doing,” says Elizabeth Weitzman at NYDailyNews.com.
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