ronarimes I read the book Ishnmael, upon which the film is based so was curious to see Instinct. The book had a very profound and thought provoking message about our place as humans in this world. Anthony Hopkins is very type cast- his role resembling Lecter in Silence of the Lambs and others he's been in. The 'baddie' prison staff were almost comically bad and the Assessor so very good and nice. I only watched the first half but what with the story build up and then the doe eyed looks pass between daughter and Assessor I could foresee the outcome. The film trivialized a serious message. A difficult task which fails.

SnoopyStyle Anthropologist Dr. Ethan Powell (Anthony Hopkins) is released from an African prison by the State Department. He had killed 2 Rwandan park rangers with a wooden club after living with the mountain gorillas for almost 2 years. Ben Hillard (Donald Sutherland) assigns his best psychiatric resident Theo Caulder (Cuba Gooding Jr.) to evaluate the silent Powell's mental stability. A door alarm sets Powell off in a violent rampage. He is locked up as Theo tries to engage Powell with the help of his daughter Lynn Powell (Maura Tierney). Dacks (John Ashton) is the sadistic guard. John Murray (George Dzundza) is the ineffective prison doctor.The movie starts with Hopkins acting like a mute Hannibal. There is something powerful and scary about Hopkins being silent. The premise loses some of the power as he starts talking. It's so much more powerful as an animalistic creature. I continue to have problems with Cuba as an actor. He is so earnest in every move he makes. It is the most annoying thing. Now this character does have this arrogant superiority. So his acting somehow fits the character. It doesn't make me like him anymore. As for the anti-civilization diatribe, I take it with a handful of salt and swallow it as best I can. The turn in the movie doesn't really help and makes it less interesting. The movie starts with something fascinating but fades into a weak Shawshank.

Wuchak What is the main purpose of a movie? To entertain and amuse in one way or another, right? In other words, captivate your attention for the span of the movie's runtime. Great movies do this and something else – they inspire you and make you think; maybe even enlighten. That's the power of the art of film. My wife and I just watched 1999's "Instinct" and it does this, which explains my high rating.THE PLOT: Anthropologist Ethan Powell (Anthony Hopkins) goes missing in Africa for a couple of years; when he is found living with gorillas he kills a couple of rangers and injures others. After a year in prison in Africa, where he refuses to speak, he is extradited to a Florida prison and put in the mental ward. A young psychiatrist, Theo Caulder (Cuba Gooding Jr.), is assigned his case to see if he can get him to speak and learn what really happened in Africa. Meanwhile Powell's daughter (Maura Tierney) anticipates reconciling with her father, IF Theo can get through to him.There are some peripheral characters, but that's the gist of the story. Some people criticize it as a mix of "Gorillas in the Mist" and "One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest," which is only valid on a surface level. I've seen the latter film (a great film) and "Instinct" stands on its own; in fact, it's quite unique, which is a sign of greatness. The movie stands or falls on Hopkins and Cuba Jr making the characters and their story come alive and seem real to the viewer. They succeeded for my wife and me. Within 20 minutes we found ourselves absorbed into the story and the characters.Some people, like Roger Ebert, criticized that the film takes on too many topics or messages, but I never got this impression, nor did my wife. There are the main themes—the limitations of freedom in conventional society and the abuse of controllers (or "takers")—and there are a few subthemes, like the flaws of our prisons and mental institutions. The film never confused us or gave the impression that it cut off more than it could chew. If you appreciate films like "Grand Canyon" and "One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest" you'll probably value "instinct." Some criticized one aspect of the climax, but it happens. There are documented examples in the USA and all over the world. Also, keep in mind that Powell was imprisoned in the mental ward of the prison, not the maximum security area.Is the story contrived to some degree? Of course it is; all movies are. Filmmakers have to tell a story and make their points within a limited time frame -- usually around two hours -- and so there are always contrived elements, coincidences, etc. The trick is to pull it off without seeming too phony or forced, which is sometimes hard to do and it takes good actors. Thankfully, "Instinct" does a respectable job on this front, perhaps mainly because it has a few great actors, although some viewers may roll their eyes at how the "ace of diamonds" subplot is wrapped up. Regardless, it's in the area of ideas that "Instinct" towers above most movies. BOTTOM LINE: "Instinct" is a psychological drama/thriller that entertains but also makes you think and ponder: How free are we really in society? Are you a giver or a taker? A blesser or an abuser? A liberator or a controller? How can you be freer? How can you escape the manipulations and shackles of others, of society, of "government"? How can you walk free of "the game"? And so much more, like the "doctor" learning from the patient and the humility it takes to learn from someone who's "under" you.The film runs 126 minutes and was shot in central Florida, Uganda and Jamaica.GRADE: A

michaelgryder I can't believe I had never seen this movie until now! I am not at all a strong writer, and have never reviewed a movie, but watching this film made me want to write a review so here it is!Both Anthony Hopkins and Cuba Gooding, Jr. really nailed their parts in this movie. As I write this, I'm realizing that I have no idea how to review a movie.The pace of the movie was great, and never leaves you bored. It isn't overly suspenseful, but by no means is it boring. Each scene flows well from one to another.Very intelligent, thought provoking, and heart-wrenching film, brought me to tears on at least 3 separate occasions!