Caution! Approach ONLY with an open mind!

I don't care what others say, but you already knew that anyhow. Movies are primarily made for entertainment. If they can entertain while conveying a message of moral truth, so much the better. It's even good if they can be made from a book and still have the source recognizeable. Are movies made to sell cars or appliances? No! Are they made to proselytize for specific religions? No! Are they made (complete with final exams) to train viewers to become brain surgeons? No!

Then why can't people settle for asking, "Did this movie entertain me, or not?" Instinct entertained the living daylights out of me, and seems to have succeeded with many more viewers who enjoyed it. The film is based on the novel "Ishmael", transformed into a screenplay by Gerald Di Pego who did Phenomenon, and Message In A Bottle. I, personally, think Instinct is the best of his screen efforts, but you can judge for yourself.

Directed by Jon Turtletaub, who also directed While You Were Sleeping, Phenomenom, and The Kid, the film tells the story of Anthropology Professor and Primatologist Ethan Powell, played by Anthony Hopkins. Now, I admit that even though I once majored in Anthropology in College, and even though Indiana Jones was supposed to be a Professor of Anthropology, this didn't quite kindle a fire in my britches to see this one.

Looking a little further, I discovered that the co-star of this marvelous film is none other than Cuba Gooding Jr. I don't know about you, but I'm just bigotted enough to be a fan of Cuba's who looks for more of his appearances. Cuba Gooding Jr. plays Psychologist Dr. Theo Calder, a young professional with a uniquely effective touch with patients.

Finally, though both turn out to be vastly under-used in this film, Donald Sutherland plays Cuba's Boss - Dr. Ben Hillard, and George Dzundza (pronounced duh-zund-zah) as a burned out prison psychologist - Dr. John Murray. Either of these fine actors automatically brings substance and credibility to whatever film they are in, and Instinct is no exception.

Doctor Powell disappeared while conduction primate research in Rwanda and was missing for two years. Rwanda, if you saw Gorillas In The Mist, provides the most accessible habitat of the Mountain Gorilla. The Mountain Gorilla is a highly popular research subject ever since the martyred Diane Fossey began cataloging unexpectedly "human" behavioral traits among the primates.

Suddenly Dr. Powell appears after having killed a couple of African Game Wardens and injuring several others before being captured. Posing an embarrassment to America, the eminent scholar is returned to prison in the US for psychological evaluation to determine whether he should be prosecuted for murder, released on the basis of justifiable homicide or, since he is now mute and unpredictably violent, committed to life in the looney bin.

As might be expected, Powell happens to have been a Professor at the same University as Theo and Dr. Hillard. Dr. Hillard, because of Theo's success with difficult patients, assigns him to do the evaluation. OK, that's enough of me telling you the plot. It wouldn't do any good anyhow, because the plot now becomes a weak vehicle to carry the powerful acting of all principals and the subliminal message that will affect how you view life forever more.

At 5'7" tall, and 64 years of age, Anthony Hopkins is a genuinely powerful man who has drawn comments from other actors who were surprised to find such strength in an "old man." He only hints at his vigor in such roles as Hannibal, or the elder Zorro, or the kidnapped millionaire in The Edge. His physical strength is matched and even exceeded by his force as an actor. When matched with other actors recognized as forceful in their performances, the situation becomes inflammable.

Trivia: Production Office coordinator Missy Lantz (who had weather the insanity of working on Water Boy with Adam Sandler) found the intensity among the primary actors so great on this film that she asked to be removed to functions away from the set. These guys are HOT!

There are elements of Gorillas In The Mist here, primarily in the scenes depicting the interaction between the primates and Dr. Powell. These scenes are intimate, believable, and very moving -- as they should be. In one scene later, at the prison, Powell is explaining the evolution of mankind to Theo. He points out the relationship between primates and tribal groups and their total difference from "civilized" man. Theo asks the difference and Powell explains that, among others, the tribal groups fight each other, but they don't covet land that doesn't belong to them and they don't wage war. Something to think about.

The interactions between Powell and Theo are super high voltage, to the extent that you may often feel the electricity reaching out from the picture itself. Whether we intend to or not; whether we want to or not, we are allowed to learn the difference between reality in life and illusion. I will warn you now, the lesson is as valid as it has been for thousands of years but the validity may not make you any happier to learn it.

I can tell you now, the first time you watch it you will be left feeling that it was somehow incomplete. Don't worry about it because I've come to the conclusion that feeling was engineered into the film deliberately as a device to make you think about it. It becomes brilliantly clear with the second or third viewing, but may still not leave you feeling unqualifiedly happy.

The message being conveyed between Powell and Theo is mirrored ever so subtly among the other loonies, and even among the guards. It would be wrong to compare this to One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, but comparisons will happen anyhow. Just remember that the issue isn't the sanity of the inmates, but their right to recognition as human beings. There is so much here that I could write for hours, but I won't.

I don't want to teach you the movie, nor do I want to preach the subliminal message that eventually emerges glowingly from the story. All I want to do is convince you that this is a movie you should get and watch. Just keep in mind, though, watch this one with an open mind only! You won't regret it.

Oh, by the way, they didn't go all the way to Africa for the location shots. All location work was done either in Florida or Jamaica -- sorry to diappoint you. It looks good anyhow. Go for it!