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Frequency

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Echoes Through Time

Dec 24, 2008

by Count_Orlok_22
posted in Movie Hype

Rating:

In the thriller Frequency, directed by Gregory Hoblit (Primal Fear and Fallen), audiences were given an unexpectedly well-made science fiction/suspense film. The film is an expertly directed piece of entertainment that will have viewers so absorbed in its thrilling story that they may have trouble coming back to reality after the end credits have rolled.
The film, which was written by Toby Emmerich, explores what happens if a person could alter the past by communicating through time. And while dealing with such heady quantum conundrums, the story also allows for moments of genuine emotion.

Dennis Quaid as Frank Sullivan

Troubled New York detective John Sullivan's life is changed forever when he contacts his father, Frank Sullivan, with an old ham radio. What makes their reunion so extraordinary is the fact that Frank died in a fire thirty years earlier. When John realizes that the Aurora Borealis (or Northern Lights) is enabling him to communicate with his father in 1969, he warns him of his death, thus giving Frank the opportunity to save himself and change the future. But altering the timeline proves to be complicated and dangerous as the Sullivan family soon finds out. When John discovers that his effect on the past has changed the future sequence of events, resulting in his mother's death at the hands of a serial killer in 1969, he must uncover the truth about who killed her so that his father can stop her murder before it happens. Utilizing his detective skills, John guides his father on a search for the killer, but the more they disrupt the course of events in the past, the more they find themselves endangered in the future. It's not long before the entire Sullivan family is under threat and their only hope for a life together is dependent upon Frank's resourcefulness and John's guidance. Can they solve the murder of John's mother before she's killed or will they be forced to watch as their temporal interference costs them that which they hold dearest; their family?

The film stars Dennis Quaid as Frank Sullivan and Jim Caviezel as John Sullivan. The supporting cast includes Andre Braugher, Elizabeth Mitchell, Shawn Doyle, and Noah Emmerich (the screenwriter's brother). Both Quaid and Caviezel give strong performances, as does the entire cast. Adding to the power of the performances is the subtle aging makeup that it is skillfully applied to the actors to help viewers differentiate between the characters in 1969 and 1999.
Conversation through time...

One of the things that makes Frequency truly unique is that it manages to root itself in the foundations of multiple genres. Being part science fiction, part murder mystery, and part family drama, the film could have easily fallen apart if it weren't for the concentrated efforts of its director.
Another interesting aspect of the film is that it's essentially a time travel film in which no one actually travels through time. Only information is relayed back and forth through the ham radio, which limits the opportunities for action and the visual effects set pieces while heightening the suspense.

Now the film isn't perfect. There are some serious flaws in the story's logic when it comes to quantum physics and the disruption of the space-time continuum, but the story is absorbing enough that this shouldn't bother many viewers.
Also adding to the film's overall impact is the exciting score by master film composer Michael Kamen, who combines taut, suspenseful musical cues with haunting themes that echo the emotions of the characters.
All in all, Frequency is an exhilarating thriller that should not be forgotten.

DVD

The excellent DVD includes an audio commentary by director Gregory Hoblit, an audio commentary by writer Toby Emmerich and actor Noah Emmerich, a trivia track, "The Science Behind Frequency" documentary, deleted scenes, image galleries, and more.

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Scotman July 20, 2010

Nicely written. Another one of your early reviews that I never read! Good basic description of plot and encouraging the reader to check out other resources in this DVD. Good job.

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Adrianna July 20, 2010

Interesting film. I've never heard of it, lol. Nice review, though.

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woopak_the_thrill September 20, 2009

I really liked this movie, but I need to re-visit this since I've forgotten most of the time travel mythos it established. Nice work.

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More Frequency reviews

review by jennyj821. June 26, 2010

YOU GOTTA SEE THIS ONE!

Frequency is one of my all time favorite movies. I have always been fascinated with the idea of time travel, alternate universes and physic occurences and this one fits right in. Early in the movie Dennis Quaid's character, a fire fighter, is killed in a huge fire. His son grows up missing his dad and finding it difficutl to get on with his life. Through a freak set of circumstances featuring a ham radio and the Northern Lights, the son is able to … more

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About the reviewer

Count_Orlok_22
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Member Since: Dec 16, 2008
Last Login: Jun 7, 2012 07:25 PM UTC

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About this movie

Wiki

Frequency is a 2000 film that contains elements of the time travel, thriller, and alternate history film genres. It was directed by Gregory Hoblit and written by Toby Emmerich. The film stars Dennis Quaid and James Caviezel as father and son, Frank and John Sullivan respectively. It was filmed in Toronto and New York City. The film gained mostly favorable reviews following its release and was released in DVD format on October 31, 2000.^[1]