Marisa Tomei Movie:

				Salesrank: 268722
		Our Price: $14.19
		Used Price: $5.29
		MPAA Rating: R (Restricted) Media: DVD

Editorial Review:
James Spader stars as Joel Campbell, a former detective traumatized by the death of his lover at the hands of a serial killer he'd been hunting--a psychopath who has taken their combative relationship a little too personally, and has now tracked the retired Campbell down in Chicago. The killer, who methodically studies his victims before killing them, starts sending Campbell photographs of prospective victims and gives him a day to find them before they're killed. Campbell rises to the challenge, returns to his role as detective, and launches a comprehensive manhunt for the killer and the women in the photographs. The Watcher is surprisingly watchable--though it does suffer from an excessive use of arty cinematography. But while the psychological interpretation of the killer's behavior is a little too schematic to be convincing, the portrayal of Campbell is quite strong, particularly due to Spader's performance. A much-underrated actor, Spader is lean and efficient in his portrayal, rarely given to flashy histrionics, but compelling and emotionally complex. Unfortunately, the killer is played by Keanu Reeves; and though Reeves isn't as terrible an actor as some critics may say, he's out of his depth here. Still, Spader carries most of the movie, and the sequences in which the police are trying to track down the victims are nicely suspenseful--in fact, the movie is overall more interested in suspense than gore, making it a pleasant change from most contemporary thrillers. Also starring Marisa Tomei as Campbell's psychiatrist and budding romantic interest. --Bret Fetzer

The Watcher [Region 2] Reviews:
pretty good
2009-06-01 - I didn't think keanu reeves could pull off this role but he did great this is a good movie

thriller
2009-04-16 - This is an excellent thriller movie. Enjoyed it very much. Great performances by Keanu Reeves and James Spader and Marisa Tomei

Alright
2009-03-21 - The only thing this movie has going for it is the HD

Keanu must have!
2009-03-10 - If you love Keanu Reeves, James Spader and Marisa Tomei (and who doesn't?), this is the best! Keanu is so totally realistic as a cold killer and James Spader as a tormented FBI agent, with Marisa as his shrink. Fast moving thriller!

"Whoa Dude, Your Gun Is Actually Loaded!" Gimme A Break...
2008-08-22 - Okay, who's bright idea was it to cast Keanu Reeves as the serial killer while having James Spader as the good guy cop?!!? Shouldn't of that been the other way around? While that's just one of the problems with The Watcher, it's easy to see why this film is buried in the Reeves library. Keanu plays a serial killer from California who somehow becomes infatuated with a detective that been on his tail ever since his first young female kill. When he kills a woman that Spader was having an affair with, it breaks the detective and he quits the Force, relocating to Chicago. Heartbroken, Reeves' character also moves to the Windy City, restarts his killing rampage, and gets Spader back on the case, all for the thrill of the chase.

While this film has a few decent thriller aspects, along with a good acting job by Spader & a "phoning-in" Marisa Tomei, the whole idea of Keanu as a piano-wire carrying murderer is never truly believed. Even more terrifying is when Reeves tries to play "crazy" by doing a dance that would even make Batman's Adam West or John Travolta's Vincent Vega giggle. Overall, this is one flix that plays more like an ABC Network pilot for James Spader's character that didn't work out in favor for his Boston Legal. Only recommended to viewers that still don't understand that casting is one of the most important parts of filmmaking.
(RedSabbath Rating:6.5/10)