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Heart and Soul This astonishing and deeply flawed film is a rarity in Hollywood, not just a piece of commercial art but an act of spiritual courage. It's unlike almost anything you'll ever see. Which doesn't necessarily make it a good movie...but it's still a powerful one. To talk too much about the movie's plot might lessen the emotional impact of the film's story and it can't afford that and still succeed. It is best experienced without knowing too much about what's going to happen. I will say this: see it. Its integrity and passion are a rarity in a time when those words are losing their meaning. The story is a simple one: we follow the spiritual journey of one woman, Sharon (Mimi Rogers) to its harrowing and controversial end. The Rapture derives what complexity it has from the emotional context each viewer will bring to the subject matter. That and the courageous performance by Rogers carry the movie past its flaws in writing and storytelling technique. I don't know that Mimi Rogers ever got another opportunity to shine like she did in this film. It's an intensely honest and vulnerable performance. We never see the actress working, only the character living. There aren't any histrionics or pyrotechnics. We simply watch Sharon experience her life, her attempts to seize control over it...and the consequences that ensue. From the moment she appears sitting in her cubicle on her head set to the devastating final shot of the movie Rogers presents us with a real woman making real choices under extraordinary circumstances. You recognize this woman, but you don't know her. This was the first film directed by Michael Tolkin -- who also wrote the screenplay -- and it shows. The movie is often clumsy and heavy handed. Shots and cinematography feel stagy and flat, lacking dynamism. The last twenty minutes of the movie especially, could have used a more experienced and visually imaginative hand at the wheel. On the other hand, there are several moments of film-making ingenuity – even inspiration. The movie manages to raise its stakes and intensity level without increasing its pace. The Rapture's ultimate saving grace is its refusal to judge its story or characters. The Rapture has sex but it does not titillate. It has violence but it does not exploit. It features God but it does not revere or condescend. It's a one of a kind movie that will not be bound by rules, trends or prejudices. And in the end, this is the means of its ultimate success. email this review to a friend
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