"WHITEOUT"

"Whiteout" is definitely one of the films that slipped through the cracks in 2009. I saw a lot of negative reviews from fans and critics alike, and while I wouldn't call it one of the best of the year, it didn't deserve to make the bottom of the year lists. Based off the "acclaimed" graphic novel of the same name, the film follows a U.S. Marshall tracking down a killer on a remote base in Antarctica.

First, I have to point out a couple flaws that any decent filmmaker should have picked up while putting this film together. I know Kate Beckinsale is hot but do we really need the long drawn out undressing and shower scene? All it does is add some PG-13ness to the film and lowers the stock of a film already bordering on silly. Also, what was the point of the backstory involving Beckinsale's character and a trauma involving a captured suspect? It added nothing to the overall movement of the story and development of the lead character. I'm willing to forgive the "seen from a mile away" killer revelation if they were to omit this pointless backstory to a subpar plot. Of course bad dialogue and bad CGI comes along with a film like this, but there are also some positives to point out. Beckinsale is surprisingly not horrible, although I believe with her continuity in movies like this, her career will end up that way. Tom Skerritt also puts together a decent character in a story with not a lot of character development. Throw in some interesting killer stalking prey scenes and the always cool ice setting and you have some potential. The obvious winner once again is the scenery, which always takes first prize in any frozen setting. Probably not worth your movie ticket price, but luckily for us, this film spent about as much time in theaters as Tiger Woods spent in sex rehab. This film comes very close to hitting the late night entertainment spot and for that it may be worth some time for non-intellectual thriller fans.

*2 Lance Approvals*