Eyes of Laura Mars

Plot synopsis:
Laura Mars (Faye Dunaway) is a glamorous fashion photographer who specializes in stylized violence (based upon the work of Helmut Newton, who provided the photos used for the film). In the middle of controversy over whether her photographs glorify violence and are demeaning to women, Laura begins seeing, in first person through the eyes of the killer, real-time visions of the murders of her friends and colleagues.
John Neville (Tommy Lee Jones), the lieutenant in charge of the case, shows Laura unpublished police photographs of unsolved murders that very closely mirror Laura's fashion shoots. Laura's visions continue, including visions of the killer stalking her and continuing to murder those around her. Meanwhile, Laura and Neville fall in love. The murders continue as Laura's various colleagues, acquaintances and past romantic interests come in and out of focus as potential suspects or victims, until a final confrontation between Laura and the killer occurs.
At her apartment, Laura is affected by one last vision of the killer, who has now come for her. The killer attempts to break in through her front door, but Laura deadbolts it before he/she can enter. Upon hearing her distress, Neville (who had been on his way to meet her) breaks through her balcony window. He proceeds to tell Laura they have caught the killer, a troubled colleague of hers named Tommy, and begins an elaborate explanation of Tommy's motivations and back story. Knowing Tommy well, Laura recognizes this as a lie and that Neville himself is the killer. As Neville details more of his own story, it is implied that he may have multiple personalities. Because of this, and his love for her, he cannot bring himself to murder her and instead asks that she end his life. She shoots him to death, calling the police as the camera view closes in on her eyes.

Tags: cult, murder, violence

Review:
Combining the improbable worlds of violence and fashion, with a story that centers on a famous photographer (Dunaway) and her ability to *see* her friends and colleagues being stalked and murdered, *Eyes* has moments of serious suspense, but that's hardly the reason to see this movie.
Utilizing the actual photography of fashion god Helmut Newton, the film maker has exquisitely captured the 1978 New York fashion and disco scene in a way that none of the recent looks at the Seventies has been able to, but then, again, this movie was *made* in 1978, not 27 years later.
This 1978 chiller directed by Irvin Kerschner (RoboCop 2) and based on a story by John Carpenter, has Faye Dunaway as a fashion photographer who suddenly discovers that she has the ability to "see" through the eyes of a serial killer.
But I found it to be suspenseful and it could be considered a forerunner of today's erotic thrillers.Faye Dunaway is Laura Mars, a fashion/glamour photographer whose work is controversial in that some say it glorifies both sex and violence towards women.
She then finds out that a detective (Tommy Lee Jones) has already been investigating some cases where murder scenes closely resembled her photos.Dunaway is always consistent in delivering good performances and this one is no exception.
A surprisingly forgotten gem of a psychological thriller, Eyes of Laura Mars is a unique and sophisticated shocker that stands out from the normal variety of thrillers.NYC fashion photographer is having visions where she sees through the eyes of the murderer that's targeting the people around her.
But what will she do when she sees said murderer coming after her?Eyes of Laura Mars was originally based upon a screenplay by master horror director John Carpenter, which isn't surprising considering just how imaginative and effectively frightening that this film comes off.
Brad Dourif is good as the shifty-eyed driver, as is Raul Julia as Dunaway's wretched ex-husband.Eyes of Laura Mars is on a level above the average terror film.
It does manage to successfully keep you guessing just who the killer is.Didn't Hurt It, Didn't Help:--Contains a decent amount of fairly well-known actors including Faye Dunaway, Tommy Lee Jones, Brad Dourif (better known as Chucky from the Child's Play series), Raul Julia, and Rene Auberjonois (famous for his Star Trek: Deep Space Nine role).
Holy crap!Memorable Scene:--Nice climax to the film.Fun Fact:--The photographic art in the film is actually from professional "glamour" photographer Helmut Newton.Acting: 8/10 , Story: 8/10 , Atmosphere: 7/10 , Cinematography: 8/10 , Character Development: 7/10 , Special Effects/Make-up: 7/10 , Dialog: 7/10 , Music: 6/10 , Direction: 9/10Nudity/Sexuality: 5/10 , Violence: 6/10 , Gore: 3/10Cheesiness: 2/10 , Crappiness: 0/10Overall: 7/10Finally, I would recommend this to hardcore horror/thriller fans or film buffs.
Faye Dunaway {Mars}, Tommy Lee Jones {Neville}, Brad Dourif {horror staple that he is} and Rene Auberjonois give credit to well formed characters.
I won't blow the end of the film (as others may) by giving away the twists and turns.There are a few decent performances in the movie - including Rene Auberjunois as Laura's 'flamboyantly flaming' manager, assistant and best friend.
There are gripping scenes here to be sure, but the film drags quite a bit and nothing virtually happens for a long period of time.For seasoned giallo fans, we know the killer is most definitely gonna be the most unlikely one, and for a lack of suspects, I didn't find it hard to figure out who was guilty, but there's pretty much no logic to support it (but that's a giallo trademark, a pro rather than a con actually).
EYES OF LAURA MARS as we all know is a murder in furs drama with Joan Crawford...er Faye Dunaway dropping her NETWORK Oscar long enough to recommence more schlock, but this time with a camera.
In 1978 when "Eyes of Laura Mars" was released,it was hailed by both critics and public alike as an innovative super natural thriller but it is certainly much more than a popular film belonging to thriller genre.It is one of those films which continue to remain highly influential due to the times in which they were shot.There is hardly anyone who does not know about the swinging seventies and its importance in the history of American cinema.The fact that famous Hollywood actors like Tommy Lee Jones and Faye Dunaway played leading roles in this film have ensured that this is a film whose popularity has grown tremendously over the years as people seem to find new meanings and personal interpretations of what they see through the eyes of the leading lady character.Eyes of Laura Mars is also one of the most vivid,psychedelic glimpses into the realms of fashion and glamor industry where gorgeous models and innovative designers have definitely more foes than friends.It must be mentioned that the haughty arrogant of police bother them as they do not seem to get preferential treatment at police headquarters solely on the basis of their glamor and charisma.As far as the thriller element of this film is concerned,director Irvin Kershner gives too many frequent albeit severe doses of shocks to his audience.This is one of the reasons why in the end,the film's obnoxious killer turns out to be the man whom the crowd had least expected to commit savage atrocities against helpless beautiful women.A final word of advice.Do not be astonished if this film fails to impress you..
Faye Dunaway is an icy, Gothic presence as New York City fashion photographer Laura Mars, stooping and gliding in her chiffon wraps while taking pictures with sexy and violent themes for magazine layouts and chic advertisements.
It's like looking at one of the photo books about decadant urban nightlife - disco, models, lesbianism, gay b'day parties, Faye-dearest, Tommy lee-needs dermabrasion-Jones,and a token serial killer thrown in.
Faye Dunaway played Laura Mars, a successful, controversial New York City art photographer, with a psychic vision.
But the script was written by John Carpenter.Among the film's other assets are all the time-capsule location shots in Manhattan, the now-quaint disco soundtrack, the Helmut Newton-style "photo session scenes", and a strong supporting cast which includes Tommy Lee Jones as a homicide detective who becomes romantically involved with the titular Miss Mars.
With this work which John wrote "Eyes of Laura Mars" is one filled suspense thriller of drama and violence that keeps a viewer on the edge of their seat and it twist with a surprise.
Set in New York City Faye Dunaway is an art fashion model photographer who starts to have visions of killings that are being done by a serial killer just like a psychic she sees it before it actually happens.
And valuable for that reason.And they sort of define that old, over-used idea that "it's so bad it's good." Ultimately, despite the elements that don't entirely work, the overall film just does.Film critic Janet Maslin said about it at the time, "...It's the cleverness of EYES that counts, cleverness that manifests itself in superlative casting, dryly controlled direction from Irvin Kershner, and spectacular settings that turn New York into the kind of eerie, lavish dreamland that could exist only in the idle noodlings of the very, very hip..." And George Lucas hired Irvin Kershner to direct THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK on the strength of EYES OF LAURA MARS..
The plot = Laura Mars (Faye Dunaway) plays a fashion photographer who takes pictures of models in violence situations, but soon she starts having dreams and visions of her friends getting killed, through the eyes of the killer, as she tries to figure out whats going on, she becomes romantically involved with a detective John Neville (Tommy Lee Jones) and they both try solve these crimes before it becomes too late.This thriller from the late 70's is a very slick and stylish affair, a good old fashioned stalk and slash fair, although not entirely a slasher movie per say, but still a pretty decent suspenseful thriller.
The stalking scenes and close-ups of the ice pick are just enough to add a psycho's tough to this underrated piece.Okay it's not perfect there are a few minor bad points, like the storyline do slow down in parts, like after a murder and the ending is also lacking thrills, but other than those points it's still a thrilling ride.The performances is what truly makes this movie work, Faye Dunaway is excellent as the lead Laura Mars, along with Tommy Lee Jones in one of his early roles as the detective and love interest, they're chemistry with each other and watching they're relationship develop further as the movie progressed was a real highlight.
The late Raul Julia plays the sleazy husband really well but we don't see enough of him, and the flamboyant friend Donald Phelps (Rene Auberjonois) was brilliant in his role, he switches from funny to serious really well and the models Lulu (Darlanne Fluegel) and Michele (Lisa Taylor) were stunning and a lot of fun, and this movie makes you feel for these characters especially when it comes to they're demise.So all in all a fashionable thriller with excellent performances with a fun 70's disco soundtrack and great suspenseful scenes..
It's the deliciously debauched and decadent late Seventies, and highly successful fashion photographer Laura Mars (Faye Dunaway) plies her trade in the most sensational manner possible, using New York City as her canvas, painting images of violence and death to sell overpriced couture.But like some sort of cosmic karmic joke played on her, maybe by Death itself, Laura suddenly receives an unwanted and terrifying gift.
Dunaway gives one of her signature solid performances, and Tommy Lee Jones is pretty good in this early role for him, as the cop that Laura turns to for protection and much more.An also pre-stardom Raul Julia (here featured as "R.J." for some unknown reason) has what amounts to little more than a cameo, and just in case you had any doubts about the setting of this piece, Rene Auberjonois nearly peels the paint off the walls with his totally non-PC turn as Laura's flamboyant best friend and confidante.
I saw "the eyes of Laura Mars" when it was theatrically released and I must say it has not improved with time.French critics were raving about the "deep" "meaningful" "insightful" psychological implications of the screenplay (some are still ) but today it looks rather like a farce,a masquerade .Leonard Maltin was right when he wrote that the " Dunaway's colleagues' lifestyles are a real turnoff".The chic atmosphere of the whole affair has the sincerity of cellophane.Most of the ideas were borrowed from Hitchcock,notably "Marnie" , "rear window" and many more,without any talent or humor.Dunaway's part which leads her to overact as she never did before predates "Mommie dearest".The main attraction is Tommy Lee Jones we rarely see "young" in the movies of the silver screen."The eyes of Laura Mars" is finally a whodunit-with-the culprit-you'll-never- guess .Flashy and far-fetched..
It can really only ever be one person and without that mystery to lean on this film doesn't really have anything else going for it unless you really like watching Faye Dunaway fill up nearly every scene with the same awkward fit of hysteria over and over again.Sorry, I'll take some 70's Argento or something similar over this movie any day..
What could go wrong?Everything.A great premise is wasted and never used to full effect (did the killer have glaucoma?), a hideous Barbra Streisand title song, pedestrian directing, no tension (the killer is obvious from the start), no pace, wastes good performances by Dunaway and Dourif, the model's look like cheap hookers and finally every conceivable aspect is hideously dated.It is not even bad in a funny or kitsch way.
Totally lacking in any special effects, this film downplays the supernatural element (which is incidentally never explained or reasoned) in favour of a murder-mystery thriller type plot with copious use of red herrings.Faye Dunaway is the pale, fragile-looking lead, and being a leading actress of her time, as you would expect she is good and a character to root for.
The script was written by John Carpenter, better known as a director (although he did not direct this film), and the fact that the killer turns out to be a psychotic puritan motivated by moral objections to Laura's work might suggest what position Carpenter himself took in this debate.Producer Jon Peters originally intended the film as a vehicle for Barbra Streisand, who was his girlfriend at the time, but she turned it down (apparently because of "the kinky nature of the story") and the role went eventually to Faye Dunaway.
Dunaway gives a perfectly adequate performance, as does a young Tommy Lee Jones as Neville, but this is not one of her really great performances, certainly not when compared to something like "Chinatown" or "Network" for which she had recently won an Oscar.The film as a whole is a reasonably competent thriller, but is nothing out of the ordinary, at least in terms of its plotting and acting.
As Laura's visions continue, police detective John Neville (Tommy Lee Jones) frantically searches for the killer, as more and more people involved in Laura's life are killed off one by one in violent and disturbing ways by an unseen, brutal murderer.What seems to be a forgotten but very nicely done horror/thriller, "Eyes Of Laura Mars" is a film that I actually enjoyed quite a bit.
I have to admit that the premise is excellent, which isn't much of a surprise since it was based on a story written by John Carpenter, who released the horror film classic "Halloween" just a few months after "Laura Mars" hit theaters.
Plus, there are still enough plot twists and tricks that keep the culprit's identity hidden well enough.Overall, "Eyes Of Laura Mars" is an original and solid horror/thriller that consists of some wonderful cinematography, great writing and acting, and a few good jolts throughout.
The film is paced fairly well and aided with some solid acting by Faye Dunaway as Laura Mars, Tommy Lee Jones as a policeman, Rene Auberjonois as Laura's agent, and Brad Douriff as an ex-con, hippie-like chauffeur for Mars.
Controversial fashion photographer Laura Mars{Faye Dunaway) begins to have visions of murders before they happen, unfortunately for her all the victims are women who are pictured in her upcoming book.
In "Eyes of Laura Mars", Faye Dunaway plays the fashion photographer whose work draws ire to a killer.
Tommy Lee Jones, looking scary mad before age mellowed his face down a bit, is the romantic interest/investigating officer, Raoul Julia the drunken ex-husband, there's a wealth of gory killings and bikini-and-fur-coat photo shoots, Dunaway is on pretty good form but the whole affair is a little too cool and emotionless to really work out, there's plenty of campy screaming but no real feeling, and without much by way of an interesting or original plot (the whole psychic thing is left entirely unexplained, and the whodunnit ending is signalled a way off), this is an OK but not great addition to the old serial-killer genre..
Standard 70s thriller stars Dunaway as the title character, a controversial NYC photographer who has the ability to see murders through her eyes, as if she is the actual killer.
That's right, kids; before he made it big with "Halloween", Carpenter did odd jobs like writing the screenplay for "The Eyes of Laura Mars".And it shows.Now, that's not so much a criticism as much as an observation of how much more a Carpenter piece this is than it is Kershner's, Dunaway's or anyone else's.Watching "Eyes", I couldn't help but, with every POV (Point Of View) scene through the killer's eyes, think of Michael Myers stalking babysitters in "Halloween".No babysitters here, but lots of fashion models and other strange denizens of the fashion world.You see, Laura (Dunaway) is a photographer who has visions of these murders as they occur.
If you have, well, you probably already know, but why spoil it for everyone else?And if you ever wanted to see what high fashion looked like in 1978, here's your big chance.Rent "The Eyes of Laura Mars" and see what cool really is, baby.Six stars.Oh, one more thing, if you knew you had visions that impaired your own actual sight, would you go out driving?Me neither..
This is the second movie I see her in and she does a good job, but most of her character is about being afraid and have "visions".I do like the premise of the plot, it sounds sort of supernatural in an old fashioned way combined with crime thriller.
A renowned photographer can suddenly see through the eyes of a serial killerStarring Faye Dunaway and Tommy Lee Jones.Written by John Carpenter (Screenplay) and David Zelag (Screenplay).Directed by Irvine Kershner.Everything about this movie is average.
Under Irvin Kershner's direction and a screen play by John Carpenter, this film feels empty.What makes it irrelevant is the fact we have a hint of who is the serial killer and his attraction toward Laura Mars.
Through clairvoyant eyes, lurid fashion photographer Laura Mars(Faye Dunaway)sees her associates/friends murdered by a leather gloved killer using a sharp instrument, stabbing them in the eyes.
I feel "Eyes of Laura Mars", a film created from a story concocted by director John Carpenter(..perhaps inspired by the slate of Italian giallo thrillers populating the scene at the time), is very similar to the Italian giallo.
Outstanding acting by Faye Dunaway as Laura Mars the fashion photographer, Tommy Lee Jones as John Nevill the investigator, and a host of other fine actors.
Laura Mars is a bigshot fashion/art photographer in New York who suddenly starts to see visions of a killer committing murders of those around her.
The police have a hard time believing Laura but Lieutenant John Neville (Tommy Lee Jones) starts to as the killings continue, it's not long before Laura 'sees' herself being stalked by the killer & she is convinced she will be their next victim unless she can uncover their identity...Directed by Irvin Kershner I thought Eyes of Laura Mars was an OK thriller but nothing special.