BOTTOM
LINE:
It’s been six
years since the sci-fi phenomenon “The X-Files” left
television and all Chris Carter could come up with in this second
feature film based on his show is another television episode. It’s
not bad, but if you’re an X-Files fan you’ll be hugely
disappointed that Mulder and Scully were not given the rousing cinematic
adventure they deserved in this flatly-directed, small-scale, un-scary
film.
THE
GOOD: “The
X-Files” set a new benchmark in science fiction for television
with its two intrepid FBI agents, Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and
Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) investigating unexplained phenomena
in weekly episodes. The series was cinematic in ideas, themes, characters
and even visually. The first film, Fight The Future, carried on
that legacy but shot itself in the foot by continuing a trend of
frustrating the viewers by not revealing any details of the intricate
government conspiracy/alien mythology storyline. In this new film,
director Chris Carter wisely chooses to keep things simple, returning
to the standalone monster-of-the-week episode the series made famous.
“I Want To Believe” chooses to focus almost entirely
on Mulder, Scully and the investigation they get dragged in to.
With the exception of Mitch Pileggi who has an extended cameo as
Walter Skinner, no other series regulars return for this instalment.
This works in the film’s favour as the series became so bogged
down with intricate character and plot developments that being released
from that gives the film a better focus. In this case, the film
is about the question of faith. What do you believe in? Why do you
believe in it? Who do you believe in? These solid, ethical questions
pour over the motivations of the characters, most obviously with
Mulder and Scully who find their relationship tested in new and
complicated ways over the case they are investigating, but also
in the nasty subplot involving Father Joe (an effective and creepy
Billy Connolly) and his connection to the altar boys he defiled
and the unspeakable acts they are performing now because of Father
Joe’s actions. In keeping things simple, director Chris Carter
re-creates the feel of the early standalone episodes of the series;
there’s an intelligent, investigative quality to the whole
endeavour which is quite refreshing given the complications the
series found itself in story-wise towards the end of its run. The
film certainly captures the spirit and essence of the series, and
seeing Mulder and Scully on the big screen once again is always
a thrill.
