K-PAX(film)

K-PAXis a 2001science fictionmystery filmbased onGene Brewer's 1995 novel of thesame name.An American-German co-production, it was directed byIain Softley,starringKevin Spacey,Jeff Bridges,Mary McCormack,andAlfre Woodard.The film tells the story of a psychiatric patient who claims to be an alien from the planet K-PAX. During his treatment, the patient demonstrates an outlook on life that ultimately proves inspirational for his fellow patients and especially for his psychiatrist.

K-PAX
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Iain Softley
Screenplay by	Charles Leavitt
Based on	K-PAX byGene Brewer
Produced by	Robert F. Colesberry Lawrence Gordon Lloyd Levin
Starring	Kevin Spacey Jeff Bridges Alfre Woodard Mary McCormack
Cinematography	John Mathieson
Edited by	Craig McKay
Music by	Edward Shearmur
Production companies	Intermedia Films Lawrence Gordon Productions
Distributed by	Universal Pictures(North America, France, Latin America and China) Universum Film(Germany)
Release date	October 26, 2001(2001-10-26)
Running time	121 minutes
Countries	United States Germany
Language	English
Budget	$68 million
Box office	$65 million

Plot

After claiming he is an extraterrestrial from the planet 'K-PAX', 1,000light yearsaway in theLyraconstellation, prot (not capitalized and pronounced with a long O, rhyming withboat) is committed to the Psychiatric Institute of Manhattan. There, psychiatrist Dr. Mark Powell attempts to cure him of his apparent delusions. However, prot is unwavering in his ability to provide cogent answers to questions about himself, K-PAX, and its civilizations. His medical examination only reinforces his story, as prot can see ultraviolet light and he is completely resistant to the effects ofThorazine.Powell introduces him to a group of astrophysicists who are befuddled when prot displays a highly detailed level of knowledge about his claimed star system that was unknown to them.

Prot also wins over the other patients at the Institute, each of whom believes unquestioningly that he is indeed from K-PAX. Prot, who claims to have journeyed to Earth by means of "faster-than-light travel," explains that he can take one person with him when he returns. Thereafter, most of the patients at the Institute ask prot to take them with him.

Upon learning that many of his patients expect to leave Earth on July 27, Powell confronts prot, who explains that it is a predetermined date. However, Powell believes this to be a significant date in prot's life, a day on which he suffered severe psychological trauma. Powell decides to subject prot toregression hypnosis,which works well. Using information gained from these sessions, Powell figures out that prot may simply be an alter ego of Robert Porter, a man from New Mexico who worked as a 'knocker' (animal slaughterer) in a local abattoir, and attempted suicide in 1996 after his wife and child were murdered by a drifter. Powell tries to confront prot with this knowledge, showing him a photo of Robert Porter in a high school yearbook and stating that it is in fact prot himself; but prot's reaction is one of bemusement, and he cryptically tells Powell that he hopes he will take good care of Robert now that he has found him.

On July 27 as the hospital staff watches, the camera in prot's room cuts to static at the precise time prot said he would leave Earth. Powell finds Porter lying on the floor in his room, catatonic, prot having apparently left Porter's body for the light travel back to K-PAX. As Robert is being wheeled out of the room, the other patients do not recognize him as prot and say that prot has gone. In addition, one of the patients is missing: Bess, a woman who had remained mute since her home was destroyed in a fire and who had been among the patients who asked to go to K-PAX with prot. She is never found. The other patients believe that prot has taken her to K-PAX. Powell continues to take care of the catatonic Porter and tells him about how the patients he helped have gone on to live normal lives again, but Robert does not respond. Powell is left with no absolute answer as to whether prot was in fact an alien entity or just a coping mechanism of the traumatized Porter, but seems far from convinced that Porter's behavior was a delusion.

In a final voiceover, prot explains to Powell that the people of K-PAX have discovered thatour universe will repeat its events again and again,so the mistakes we make will be repeated forever. Prot encourages Powell to make this time count, as it is the only chance we have. Inspired, Powell begins a new, better life by reconciling with his estranged son Michael.

Cast

• Kevin Spaceyas prot/Robert Porter
• Jeff Bridgesas Dr. Mark Powell
• Mary McCormackas Rachel Powell
• Alfre Woodardas Dr. Claudia Villars
• David Patrick Kellyas Howie
• Saul Williamsas Ernie
• Peter Geretyas Sal
• Celia Westonas Doris Archer
• Ajay Naiduas Dr. Chakraborty
• Tracy Vilaras Maria
• Melanee Murray as Bess
• John Toles-Bey as Russell
• Kimberly Scottas Joyce Trexler
• Conchata Ferrellas Betty McAllister
• Vincent Larescaas Navarro
• Brian Howeas Dr. Steven Becker
• Mary Maraas Abby
• William Luckingas Sheriff
• Aaron Paulas Michael Powell
• Norman Aldenas Babbling Man
• Lola Pashalinskias Russian Woman

Production

Will Smithwas offered the role of prot/Robert Porter.Kevin Spacey was originally offered the role of Dr. Mark Powell, but instead landed on the role of prot.

Reception

K-PAXreceived mixed reviews from critics. OnRotten Tomatoes,it has an approval rating of 42%, based on 141 reviews, with an average rating of 5.10/10. The website's consensus states "For those who have seenOne Flew Over the Cuckoo's NestorStarman,K-PAXmay not hold anything new. The movie works best as a showcase for Kevin Spacey and Jeff Bridges. "The film has a weighted average score of 49 out of 100 onMetacritic,based on 31 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews".

Roger Ebertof theChicago Sun-TimesgaveK-PAXthree stars out of four and wrote: "I admired how the movie tantalized us with possibilities and allowed the doctor and patient to talk sensibly, if strangely, about the difference between the delusional and that which is simply very unlikely."A. O. Scott,wrote inThe New York Times:"K-PAXis a draggy, earnest exercise in pseudo-spiritual uplift, recycling romantic hokum about extra-terrestrial life and mental illness with wide-eyed sincerity. "ForVariety,Robert Koehler wrote "'K-PAX' gives off a great deal of light but generates little heat in a drama that aspires to cosmic themes but ends up with plain, comforting homilies."Claudia Puig atUSA Todaywrote "Besides being saddled with the year's worst title...this misguided movie is shackled by its own overreaching sense of importance and foggy earnestness."

Box office

K-PAXgrossed $17.5 million and ranked number 1 in its opening weekend ahead ofWarner Bros.'Thirteen Ghostsand20th Century Fox'sFrom Hell.It plunged into fourth place whenMonsters, Inc.was released during its second weekend.The film was a box-office disappointment, making only $65,001,485 worldwide vs. a budget of $68 million, including $50,338,485 in North America and $14,663,000 internationally.

Home media

K-PAXwas released onDVDandVHSon March 26, 2002.

Plagiarism lawsuit

Argentinian directorEliseo Subielaclaimed thatK-Paxplagiarized his 1986 filmMan Facing Southeast.He said "it's a copy, but a good quality one".Subsequently, Gene Brewer and others connected withK-PAXwere sued in November 2001. The complaint was withdrawn because the trial stretched over time and Subiela lacked sufficient funds to continue the litigation. Subiela claimed until his death in late 2016 that his film was plagiarized by the makers ofK-PAX.

Bibliography

• Frauley, Jon (2010)."Pathology, Power, and Medicalization inK-Pax".Criminology, Deviance, and the Silver Screen: The Fictional Reality and the Criminological Imagination.New York: Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 156–194.ISBN9781349378869.OCLC951516342.

External links

• Official website
• K-PAXatIMDb
• K-PAXatAllMovie
• K-PAXatBox Office Mojo
• K-PAXatRotten Tomatoes