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Click above to purchase "Skeletons In The Closet" at
amazon.com
Skeletons In The Closet
review by Anthony D.
Running Time: 109 minutes
Starring Treat Williams, Linda Hamilton, Jonathan
Jackson
Written by Wayne Powers and Donna Powers
Directed by Wayne Powers
Retail Price: $24.98
Studio: Artisan
Features: Audio Commentary, Theatrical Trailer, Cast
and Crew Information, Production Notes
Specs: 1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen, English Dolby
Digital 5.1, English Dolby Digital 2.0, English Closed
Captions, Spanish Subtitles,Scenes Access
"Could my son possibly be a serial killer?" "Could my
father have murdered my mother?" These are the questions
raised by 2000's "Skeletons in the Closet;" an engrossing,
psychological character-driven drama. A well-constructed
film, "Skeletons in the Closet" relies on the sheer talent
of its leading actors to brings theses characters to life,
and to supply much more depth of characterization than you
would find in one of those similarly themed films shown
conastantly on cable's Lifetime channel. Yes, "Skeletons in
the Closet" has all the markings of a television movie,
right down to the casting of Linda Hamilton, who though best
known for her works with James Cameron ("Terminator" &
"Terminator 2: Judgement Day" ) has had her share of
starring roles in so-called "Movies of the Week." Unlike
other cable fare films, "Skeletons in the Closet" actually
works rather well in its creation of suspense and believable
conflict provided by the writers.
In the past, a fatal house fire has led to the scarring
of father and son, Will and Seth Reid. Will has been left
with physical scars, while his son has grown up with his own
share of emotional scarring. Growing up without a mother,
who was lost in the opening house fire, Seth 's emotional
damage provides a strong catalyst for suspicion and doubt to
raise their ugly heads, and to open the door for strong
father-to-sons conflicts to emerge.
Will (the constantly amazing Treat Williams) is a model
employee, racking up the big accounts with the aid of
co-worker Tina. Despite the problems beginning to show in
his son, Will begins an affair with Tina. The first sign of
troubled youth comes when a gift that Seth has made to his
girlfriend - a necklace made from animal bones - is abruptly
returned by her father ("N.Y.P.D. Blue's" Gordon Clapp).
That his horrific talisman could have been bought at a
head-banger store never enters these parents thoughts, as
Will provides chastisement to his son. Further warning signs
come when Will is called to the high school prom by Seth's
date. Seth has flown off the handle, mistreating his date
and calling her names. Later that night, it is discovered
that one of the students is missing, presumably dead. Seth
admits to having been in the company of this student, in a
remote area, sharing a bottle of booze.
As Will begins his romantic liaison with Tina (Hamilton),
more evidence points to a criminal life being lead by Seth.
Gifts are exchanged which may or may not have belonged to
missing or murdered men. Seth leaves town for a short time
saying that he has enlisted in the army, but returns with
decidedly non-military hair. Is he really a problem child,
or is Will adjusting to his impending middle-age with
paranoid delusions? There are no simple answers to be found
in "Skeletons in the Closet," but the answers it gives are
startling, and often intense.
Artisan Entertainment has provided an impeccable
presentation here. Shot on High Definition Video, there is
nothing lacking in the picture quality. Presented with an
anamorphic widescreen transfer the video is granted a very
life-like quality, with strong fleshtones, deep, rich blacks
and blemish-free. Given the subdued quality of the hues,
more than adequately portrayed by the details of High
Definition, this presentation becomes near to reference
quality. Even if the script is more often than not cable
televison fodder, the picture quality is unlike any
television movie.
I found the audio portion of the presentation to be
highly problematic. This being a dialogue driven film, I was
constantly adjusting the volume, tweaking it here and there
just to hear the dialogue. So much of the dialogue is
presented in whispered tones, but the musical score is
geared quite high, that often the dialogue is drowned out.
Jonathan Jackson's reed-thin voice suffers the most
throughout the film. At least "Skeletons in the Closet" has
been formatted with Closed Captioning for the Hearing
Impaired, though more often than not, those Close Captions
are paraphrased rather than literal. Neither the Dolby
Digital 5.1 or the 2.0 ever reach the heights of perfection
that the video portion does.
Easter eggs can be found on this disc, surprisingly
enough. Two deleted scenes are hidden in one of the menu
screens, and although they're not spectacular, the decision
to cut them was wise. Also featured is a very
self-congratulatory Audio Commentary from Donna and Wayne
Powers: the script-writers and producers. The track details
the decade-long struggle to get "Skeletons in the Closet"
onto the screen, and the niceties of working with Treat
Williams. A lot of the same information can be found in the
inlay sleeve's text, which is reminiscent of the Universal
Signature Series, right down to the signatures. Textually,
on the disc itself are major, well-done Cast and Crew
Information: not your standard chronological listings, but
finely composed descriptions of all the major participants
in the production. I would like to see more Talent Files to
be as carefully produced as these were from other companies.
Spoken about in the commentary track, and written of in the
textual files, is the short-subject film made with Treat
Williams prior to "Skeletons in the Closet," but, "The
Taming Power of the Small" is not to be found, although the
commentary track specifically states that the short is part
of the DVD. If some intrepid viewer stumbles into this
well-hidden feature, please, let me know. A standard
Theatrical Trailer rounds out Artisan's well-produced disc.
If you're a fan of "Markie Post Lifetime Televsion
Movies," then "Skeletons in the Closet" should offer a
pleasant viewing experience, since it take an issue usually
addressed by the Television for Women channel, and grafts
the masculine gist onto it. Treat Williams successfully
brings a strength and depth to the film, which will continue
to haunt you after the credits have rolled. A very nice
package from Artisan should delight DVD mavens who are on
the lookout for a taut little drama, boasting a dynamic set
of performances from its two leads.
 (3.5/5 - NOT included in
final score)
 (4.5/5)
 (2/5)
 (2.5/5)
 (3/5,
NOT an average)
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