Fallen
USA 1997. Director: Gregory Hoblit
Cast: Denzel Washington, John Goodman, Embeth Davidz

An evil angel moves from body to body by a simple touch. I liked this film. Although I've seen the story before, I really really liked it. It's an old-fashioned character-driven movie of the kind they used to make in the '70s. The film may have disappeared without notice at the time of arrival, but it's still one of the best Denzel Washington films I've seen. Maybe the best ever.

The star plays police detective John Hobbes who is about to witness the execution of a serial killer named Edgar Reese who dies while singing "Time is on my side" (you know, the Stones tune). Immediately after-wards more victims turn up, killed in the exact same way as those killed by the executed Reese. At first Hobbes thinks it's just a copy-cat killing but is soon convinced otherwise. By accident Hobbes stumbles across an old case in which a now deceased cop, Robert Milano, was blamed for identical killings and he soon discovers that he is about to fall into the same trap. As he is chased by his own colleagues, trying to get a grip on what's going on, he meets the daughter of the falsy accused Milano and learns the story of Azazei. Azazei is a Persian angel with the power to take the soul-way to optional body, making its host commit any crime of choice. And now Azazei has decided to nail Hobbes's ass to his badge.

The story (written by Nicholas Kazan, a director in his own right) is somewhat unclear and Azazei's motive for killing is a bit far-fetched. He's just in town to enjoy himself on the expense of one selected human, in this case our hero Hobbes, before going on to the next victim and the next body. But how come he stays in Reese's body until the very bitter end by execution, instead of just jumping to another host long before? Not much fun sitting in a death-cell. The storytelling, leading to a not so surprising conclusion, is perhaps a bit slow as well. But pace or surprise, or even coherence appearently, isn't the thing here. What matters is the suggestive atmosphere, mixing supernatural elements with the detective story. The film may take its time to tell the story, and the sum of its parts compensates for separate flaws, but one is simply sucked into the methodical narrative, as Hobbes step by step slowly discovers what is the only unconditional solution for ending the killing spree. The most obvious narrative trick, one that I didn't really like at first but appreciated after a while, is the deceitful voice-over. Is it Hobbes telling his story? Or is it Azazei telling his?

In the acting department, Washington doesn't exactly stretch his ability. On the contrary, and to the film's benefit, he looks strangely relaxed. But it makes sense. The greatest of acting is giving the impression that it's not an act at all, and all the scenes of day-to-day police work feels very realistic, almost boring, thanks to the down-to-earth performances by Washington and co-stars James Gandolfini (from Sopranos) and John Goodman (who proves just how good he can be, in case you have forgotten The Big Lebowski). And, of course, trusty old Donald Sutherland. And then I haven't even commented upon the moody cinematography and sound-track yet. All in all, Fallen is a film you should see. Hollywood isn't known for trying to come up with something new, especially not in this genre, and the film doesn't really offer anything either. But director Gregory Hoblit should at least have a big credit for trying.

© The Inzomniac's Movie Madness Review.