Whiteout

Movie Grade: B+

DVD Features Grade: C

Overall Grade: B

I had no idea what to expect going in to this and I must say I was pleasantly surprised with what I found. Whiteout is a classic ‘whodunit’ with excellent performances by the entire cast and while budgetary restraints clearly kept the production values from being high enough to makes this a blockbuster movie in theaters, it didn’t keep it from becoming a fun, engaging thriller that keeps you guessing right up until the very end.

U.S. Marshall Carrie Stetko (Kate Beckinsale) is basically serving as the security chief for a scientific research base located in the coldest, most remote land mass on the planet, Antarctica. Each year before their winter begins the entire base is evacuated, however this year a murder has taken place and it’s up to Stetko to figure out what has gone on and why. When the plot is broken down so succinctly like that it seems predictable and cheesy and in some senses it is; but what ends up ensuing is a game similar to the one we played while watching the first Scream film. Anyone could be the bad guy, or bad guys, but who are they and what is their motivation? The cast do an excellent job of constantly throwing random looks and glances to mislead the audience and misdirect their attention. Everyone is a suspect!

The film uses a lot of flashbacks to explain the trauma that Stetko has undergone to bring her to this least desirable posting, and while I enjoyed not being told everything up front I felt the flashbacks were a bit overdone and more fitting for a TV movie than a theatrically released film by Warner Bros. There were one too many moments where flashbacks were used just to make sure the audience hadn’t forgotten anything from earlier in the film. That dumbs things down a little too much for my taste. If you weren’t paying attention then you don’t deserve to enjoy that moment of realization. (trust your audience more Mr. Sena!)

There is absolutely nothing to dislike about our star, Kate Beckinsale. She is without a doubt one of the most gorgeous women working in Hollywood today looking just as striking with no make up and her hair in a pony tale as she does when she’s all dolled up for the camera. There’s one sequence in the beginning of this movie where she’s getting undressed for a shower and although nothing is actually revealed it’s clearly worthy of being on any pre-pubescent male teens top 10 lists of ‘must sees.’ This wasn’t exactly a challenge for her performance wise in any way but what she delivers is solid and creates a character the audience can empathize with and root for.

Co-star Gabriel Macht holds his own opposite Beckinsale both acting and looks wise. He’s definitely a gorgeous

guy that we should be keeping our eyes on, for many reasons. It’s always interesting to see these beautiful actors all bundled up playing characters in extreme cold because somehow even through all of the bulky layers of clothing you can tell they hit the gym way more than you do!

Equally breathtaking are the amazing artic landscapes and locations used for the film. I’m quite certain they were not in fact shooting in Antarctica, however wherever they were it seemed just as untouched and angelic as the real deal. The ‘whiteout’ effects do at times make it difficult to figure out exactly who is who particularly towards the end of the film but it doesn’t seriously deter from the suspense that the film builds. The action is never forced or gratuitous and is only there to further the story. The film did have a few moments where you will want to yell at the characters for some of their decisions, but that comes with the territory.

Special features on the disc include some deleted scenes but that’s it; this is a bare bones DVD experience, but because of the overall ‘fun’ factor of the movie it’s worth checking out.

If you can forgive some of the productions short comings obviously due to finance issues and allow yourself to be caught up in the story you will really enjoy yourself!

Movie Grade: B+

DVD Features Grade: C

Overall Grade: B