Somebody To Watch Over Me Film Review

The next film from Ridley Scott is something of a departure from his previous films. Somebody to Watch Over Me is akin to a potboiler crime thriller. Which unlike his films previously reviewed, does not go for vast ambition and imagination but settles on a cop thriller that takes substance entirely out of the equation. Oh sure, his trademark of spotlighting and saxophone cues return here, but merely provides the film with a glossy sheen over something entirely predictable. Tom Berenger stars as Detective Mike Keegan who is assigned to protect a socialite named Claire, played by Mimi Rogers. After she witnesses the murder of an old friend, by a former partner of his, over a trust deal gone awry.

Mike has a loving wife, (played by Lorraine Bracco), and son, but during his assignment, he can’t help being drawn to her and she to him. They dangerously become too involved. Claire is confronted by the madman and is scared of revealing him to the police at the station. Keegan’s misguided actions set him free, and their affair is found out by both Keegan's colleagues and his family; leaving him in turmoil. However, that’s the least of his problems, the murderer goes after his family in revenge, and so he must buckle down to save his family and Claire from more danger.

To say this film is formulaic and predictable is undoubtedly true. From describing the plot right at the beginning, you could easily fit the pieces together as to where the film is going. Mainly what the characters are going to do next and what tone the film is trying to achieve. The film’s downfalls are more script related. It doesn’t provide a good enough reason why the two should get together. His family loves him, and he and Claire are from different backgrounds, but it needs to create conflict, so getting along it is. Berenger I think, doesn’t create a very interesting or memorable character within the guise of a flawed cop in the way that someone like Michael Douglas would have done. However, there are some positives. Mimi Rogers is a hugely underrated actor and does her best with injecting a sympathetic character. Along with Lorraine Bracco, who is just a fantastic actor and really shines here.

The film is, as you would expect, stylishly shot. Giving us cues and lighting that evoke a moody atmosphere and is enough to carry you through a relatively familiar plot. Overall I would like to have seen something more from Ridley Scott that makes the film stand out from this sort of genre. But, I guess he has decided on something more routine. A stylishly shot film that does have plot holes but brisks along at a decent pace with some exciting performances as well. Pretty solid.

3/5