The Good Dad

Rating: 8/10 (10 August 2005)

Finally got around to seeing Steven Spielberg's "War of the Worlds" starring Tom Cruise. Spielberg and Cruise had collaborated before on the very novel and ambitious "Minority Report". A couple years ago when both announced that they were re-teaming on the big budget remake of H.G. Wells's "War of the Worlds", I was both excited and puzzled. The original "War of the Worlds" movie (not the Orson Wells radio broadcast), was for it's time a great science fiction flick, but void of a compelling human story. In keeping with the novel, Spielberg's "War of the Worlds" is still essentially an allegory for natural selection. However, I can now see what drew Spielberg and Cruise to this story which focuses on father, Ray Ferrier (Cruise) and his two kids, Rachel (the awesome Dakota Fanning), and Robbie (talented newcomer Justin Chatwin) in the midst of the devastating alien attack. Cruise's Ray is a divorced crane operator. He is an arrogant and selfish father, who is looking after his kids for the weekend while his ex-wife Mary Ann (a strong Miranda Otto) and her current husband are on a trip up state. Then the world literally comes to a stand still.
The story by Josh Friedman and David Koepp has some great expository touches. For instance we learn through news clips and mostly through survivalist Harlan Ogilvy (the perfectly deranged Tim Robbins) that this war or attempted genocide had been planned for perhaps a million years. The alien weapons of mass destruction were planted underground at various sites around the world, awaiting a predetermined alien mobilization command. The special effects and CGI are cutting edge amazing. "War of the Worlds" is visually stunning.
Given all that, the alien threat is more background, and Spielberg directs our attention to the Ferrier family. In the very beginning, he establishes Ray (Tom Cruise) as a bad Dad. Cruise is effective and believable in portraying Ray's transformation to good Dad. There is a powerful scene where Ray must separate from his son Robbie (Chatwin). The scene is unexpectedly poignant. Justin Chatwin is a powerful young actor. Dakota Fanning is a true talent, becoming more accomplished with each role. Here as Rachel she is truly terrified, but always has her wits about her. She is always natural with a radiant presence. Ultimately, what distinguishes Steven Spielberg's "War of the Worlds" is not the stunning visually effects, but it's story of family. It's the journey of a man learning to become a good father. That is compelling. So are the performances by Cruise, Danning, and Chatwin. Acknowledge too, Spielberg's inspired and deeply personal direction.