Film Review: X-Files, Fight the Future: abridged version

Let’s take the bad first -- I promise it will not take long. Every season, X-Files presents us with twenty-three episodes of the bizarre and wonderfully titillating. Five to six shows that deal specifically with an ongoing subplot of alien abduction, appearances, meddling, and unparalleled cunning by a cast of shadowy figures' one can’t decide whether to love or hate. This half dozen shows are the absolute underpinning of the current X-Files movie.

The film brutally grabs your attention forcing you to witness a 36,998 year old murderously defensive fight scene and then gently nudges itself into the curiosity center of your brain by allowing you to watch excited north Texas teenagers accidentally discovering the cave fostering the old alien ooze that resulted from that conflict. From there it cascades into a series of governmental quick response scenarios utilizing unlimited budgets to secure the world. from what they feel we the people couldn’t possibly comprehend.

X-Files the movie, allows for no stars save Scully and Mulder with the covert scenarios of intrigue and deceit as the only -- but capable co-stars of the film. Cinematographer Ward Russell has done a masterful job of filling the screen with exceptional panoramas. There is a helicopter chase scene in the corn fields of Texas reminiscent of the airplane chase scene in Hitchcock’s North by Northwest. Filming of the chase was brilliant, daring, and fresh.

The problem is that each scene is like a unique brick in a beautiful wall. Each brick (scene) is precisely sculptured to achieve a wonderful effect and contribute to the whole wall (movie). The wall crumbles however because there is no mortar which is what the historical shows imparted to those who have seen the television series. It is this reviewer’s opinion that the uninitiated movie goer will appreciate the pacing and fine edge of the film but walk away wondering, "what was all the hoopla about." Perhaps Fox should put out a box set called the "Alien Series" before X-Files (the movie) is released to video stores to serve as a primer to the movie.

The Good News: X-Files answers most of the questions raised since 1993 but forces to the surface new questions that I suspect will be the conspiratorial fodder for the next five years of the television series. You will discover what is in all those caves that Mulder accidentally found himself in since 1993. You will know how willing the government is to dispose of life, anyone’s life, for the sake of national security. You will either believe it or you will be ready to certify creator Chris Carter as paranoid delusional If you’ve never heard of FEMA or it’s power, you’ll be horrified. Days after the suspense of the film ebbs you may feel betrayed by the knowledge that an actual agency exist which can suspend your constitutionally guaranteed rights.

This movie does something else extremely well; it creates an atmosphere of plausibility for the unexplained. It has the ability to make you ask yourself …. "I wonder?" X-Files can also make you shout at the screen. You won’t believe the insufferable rigidity of an FBI investigative review board that refused to see anything or what Agent Fox Mulder states is not obvious, easily cataloged or out of the ordinary. Their only ally, who sometimes appears to be an enemy is Director Skinner (Mitch Pileggi), the 46 year assistant director who makes male pattern baldness really look cool.

Then there’s Martin Landau playing the ‘Deep Throat’ part of Dr. Alvin Kurtzweil. As the senior actor he brings refreshing spice and irascible friskiness to the film as an old conspiratorial who believes and subsequently publishes material linking the government to scandal and cover up. Kurtzweil secretly guides Mulder to evidence that ultimately proves to be valuable. Martin was perfectly cast and does a perfect job. His performance is solid.

Finally there’s the just-under-the-surface romance between David Duchovny (Agent Fox Mulder) and Gillian Anderson (Agent/Physician Dana Scully). I can’t say too much here but we do get to see … well I just can’t say. Sorry! The soundtrack by Mark Snow is adequate, eerie, and well paced. It’s not Horner, Williams, or Sylvestri but it’s pretty darn good. Strong language is not often or offensive and its use is situationally realistic.

So should you plop down your seven bucks to see this flick? If you’re an X-Filer, a resounding ‘yes’ is my answer. If you have no clue about the series but you love suspense, international intrigue and mystery, I can safely say ‘yes.' If you’re going because your X-Filer buddy recommended it but you don’t fall into the exceptions above, save your money, catch it on video or see it at a cheap matinee.

See you at the movies