WINGED CREATURES
The Story:
The reverberating shock felt by the survivors of a senseless massacre in a suburban Los Angeles coffee shop.The most direct witness is waitress Carla (Kate Beckinsale), who has just shared a moment with Dr. Bruce Laraby (Guy Pearce) as he was leaving the diner, and inadvertently opening the door to the gunman. Near Carla is Charlie (Forest Whitaker), who has been thumbing a brochure about cancer at the counter.
Succeeding passages reveal additional moments from the massacre, including the full extent of the gunman's cruel killing of Aaron (Tim Guinee), the father of Anne (Dakota Fanning), who's hiding under a booth table with best friend Jimmy (Josh Hutcherson). After a tussle with Charlie, the gunman shoots himself.
In the local hospital's emergency ward, Bruce futilely attempts to save the gunman's life, and is told by fellow surgeon Dan (James LeGros) that doctors can't play God. Thus begins a rather dull, repetitive pattern: The life-and-death event unleashes an extended encounter with God and fate, with each survivor managing it in a different manner.
Told that he's "beyond lucky" to be alive, Charlie heads off to a casino. Anne resorts to her own personal brand of Christianity, preaching about obedience to God's will to the point that mother Doris (Jeanne Tripplehorn) grows concerned for her sanity, even as Anne begins to draw a large assembly of believers at school.
Jimmy's response is to go mute and shut down emotionally, resisting any help from hospital psychologist Ron (Troy Garity), while his father Bob (Jackie Earle Haley) fears his son's condition may jeopardize his family's health coverage.
Strangest response of all comes from doc Bruce, who seems to be suffering from unarticulated survivor's guilt, especially since he just happened to miss the massacre by moments
Starring:
Kate Beckinsale, Guy Pearce, Dakota Fanning, Forest Whitaker, Embeth Davidtz, Jennifer Hudson, Jackie Earle Haley, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Josh Hutcherson
Directed By:
Rowan Woods
Release:
2009
Watch the Trailer:
