Fallen **** (1998, Denzel Washington, John Goodman, Donald Sutherland, Embeth Davidtz, James Gandolfini) – Classic Movie Review 6383

Denzel Washington is in his element as homicide detective John Hobbes, who witnesses the execution of serial killer Edgar Reese (Elias Koteas). But soon the killings start again in Reese’s style…

Director Gregory Hoblit’s excellent 1998 thriller Fallen offers strong roles for Denzel Washington, John Goodman as Jonesy and Donald Sutherland as Lieutenant Stanton, all eagerly grabbing their opportunities. It is great to see them working on such good material.

Washington is in his element as homicide detective John Hobbes, who witnesses the execution of serial killer Edgar Reese (Elias Koteas).

But soon the killings start again in Reese’s style. Hobbes is told to watch out for the cursed fallen angel Azazel. Could he really be roaming the Earth, switching bodies and possessing people?

Hoblit is in his element, too, with a strong hold on his characters, the atmosphere and tension, and above all the story, which turns out to be both unpredictable and compelling. Thank you writer Nicholas Kazan. There is action, crime, drama, horror and the supernatural. What more do you want?

Fallen also features Embeth Davidtz as Gretta Milano, James Gandolfini as Lou, Gabriel Casseus, Michael J Pagan and Robert Joy as Charles.

Gregory Hoblit is also the director of Primal Fear (1996), Frequency (2000), Hart’s War, (2002), Fracture (2007), and Untraceable (2008).

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 6383

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