K-Pax

            Ridding on the Kevin Spacey hype train I came upon his 2001 film K-Pax where he stars as Prot who is either Manhattan’s most convincing psychiatric patient or an alien investigator. Spacey’s costar is Jeff Bridges, Dr.  tasked with evaluating and treating the man who claims to have ridden light to see Earth.

The relationship between Pax and Dr. Powell, Bridge’s character, quickly becomes a noticeably unique situation. Powell is a master of his work. He has the respect of his colleagues, he essentially runs the facility, and he seems unfazed by all his other cases and they don’t require much effort on his part. He’s seen it all before. And then there is Prot. Powell’s interviews begin with him and he throws drugs at it and expects the same result he usually gets. But Prots body is immune to these drugs. Powell becomes interested. He follows up with more interviews but Prot continually displays incredible intelligence. Powell brings Prot in front of a team of scientists exploring and working to try to explain the workings of the universe and Prot is able to give calculations and formulas explaining details about his “home” planet that these scientists had had yet to figure out themselves. Powell becomes emotionally invested.

He cares for Prot, and he is determined to help him but his effort to solve the mystery behind Prot is not just a selfless one. Powell is driven to find an earthly answer to maintain his own sanity as well. Powell’s struggle to find the answer is the audience’s struggle as well and it’s an intriguing one. Prot has befriended the audience as well. He is the hero that brightens the ward, giving the patients new energy and hope. He is friendly, intelligent, and genuine who’s entire impact is positive. The film has few points where my eyes aren’t glued to the screen, watching everything, hoping to find another hint that will take me closer to knowing for sure where Prot is from.

My only real issue is a small one. The man who has seen everything, and who looks to be as about experienced as it gets when it comes to his field breaks his toughest case yet by using hypnosis. The only time I felt the movie wasn’t drawing me in closer when the introduction of hypnosis. Here we have this big time physiatrist and an impossible client and the doctor’s ace in the hole is waving a watch and talking calmly. I think the movie and Prot deserved a more well thought out answer than that.

But my concerns were buried by the ending I wanted. With still no answer by the end of the movie, it invites speculation and imagination. After the confusion of weighing all the evidence were left remembering the impact that Prot had. The way it should have ended.

3 out of 5