THE CAVEMAN’S VALENTINE from Universal Focus
Cast: Samuel Jackson, Aunjanue Ellis,
Tamara Tunie, Colm Feore, Ann Magnuson and Anthony Michael
Hall
Director: Kasi Lemmons
Screenplay: George Dawes
Green, based on his novel
Music: Terence
Blanchard
Cinematographer: Amelia Vincent
Four years ago,
actress-director Kasi Lemmons (Silence of the Lambs) hit a home run
in her directorial debut with EVE’S BAYOU. In her second feature,
THE CAVEMANS VALENTINE, she proves that her first effort was no
fluke, but falls short of emulating the same success. Anyone who
watches enough movies would say that this is SHINE meets THE PLEDGE
where traits of those films are evident in this one.
Samuel
Jackson (who starred in "Eve's Bayou:") plays a homeless and crazed
man who finds a dead body outside the cave he 's living in. While
trying to solve the murder and dealing with the "demons" in his
head, he's also looking for ways to reconnect with his
daughter.
While this tale of Sherlock Holmes sounds formulaic,
Lemmons incorporates a number of scenes involving black dancers
that demonstrate what's in Jackson's mind. The scenes are visually
stunning but they fail to convey a reason for their appearance. A
background to the beginning of Jackson's craziness is never fully
established, which is essential in knowing his character. Jackson
gives a fine performance despite the script.