APRIL 23, 2001 Along Came a Spideffileaves Suspense and Action

Wow. This movie has more twists portant now, but is not world famous profiler Dr. Alex Cross, also a popular ment, which clues Dr. Cross to the fact and turns than...remember "Wild like Charles Lindberg? They connect author, and the main detective on this that the kidnapper no longer has the Things", starring Neve Campbell? In- the girl to her Russian classmate. Dimitri. case, as he was "invited in" by the kid- kidnapee, and someone else has en- teresting. suspenseful, and excellent and arrive in time to stop one kidnap- napper at the beginning of the movie. tered into the game. But who? We acting make this film an outstanding ping, but is it enough? Mr. Sonje, tem- Why would a detective who lost one don't know that Dr. Cross is thinking piece of work. The storyline is similar porarily foiled and extremely angry, partner, agree to taking on a pretty this until the kidnapper makes a move to the "Bone Collector movie in the drives back to the boat in a rage (where blonde (Jessie) as a new one? Per- to kidnap Jessie. She stabs him in the sense that you have a cold-blooded he's holding the girl hostage), opens haps the thought of her stalking him thigh with a knife conveniently hidden killer leaving clues for police to follow; the cabin room door. points his gun at wasn't as attractive as using her as an in her pocket. and Dr. Cross shoots him clues that get them there just a nano- the bed, fully intending to shoot, and assistant. Or was it Jessie's heartwarm- dead. (I hope all potential kidnapees second too late. Some people have his jaw drops. She's not there. Hmm, ing story that she was assigned to watch think of this strategy in case they're ever said it's a prequel to "Kiss the Girls." did she somehow manage to escape. the girl for two years before she botched in an attempted kidnapping situation. ) "Spider" starts out in a private, or is she just hiding somewhere else her own job by losing the girl, therefore The detectives return to the well-guarded (or so we think) school on the boat? He already foiled one having an emotional investment in the school again to search for more clues for kids of prominent Washington, DC clever overboard escape attempt by case? Of course, Mr. Sonje has been and scope out a different angle. What politicians and foreign families. We see shooting and killing her would-be sav- following the news. and determines I want to know is how a detective can innocent child play between a young ior moments before she reached the Jessie, an FBI agent, is Dr. Cross' part- walk around a room, stop. stare at one American female (Megan Rose) and poor clueless young man. ner. item and find a clue that leads them to Russian male (Dimitri), which takes a Meanwhile, back at the station, He traces her address through the criminal's home? It makes me want cyber twist with a new form of "passing police receive a message from the kid- his computer and visits to her apart- to follow a real detective around for a notes:" encoding messages in pictures napper, a ransom of S10 million in dia- ment, when she and Dr. Cross are there day to find out (one that's working on and instant messaging them to a class- monds. This new request doesn't make alone (timing is everything). Using a an international. top secret FBI case, mate (of course. all classmates have sense according to the profile they stun gun on Jessie at the door, he forces of course). their own computers). This becomes worked out on him; he's looking for fame Dr. Cross to drop his gun, saying, "kill Want to know who the new kid- an important clue for police later. and notoriety. not millions of bucks. It me. you won't find the girl." During their napper is? Want to know if they get A teacher (Mr. Sonji) kidnaps the would seem he's conversation. Dr. there in time to save the girl? Remem- girl. daughter of a senator and his out- getting desperate Cross casually ber. Hollywood doesn't always let the spoken. intelligent wife. Police follow a and the case has mentions the leaders be heroes. It has all the ele- trail that reminds them of the Lindbergh taken an interest- She Said "S12 million in dia- ments of a four star movie: intense sus- baby kidnapping. except they're con- ing turn. Sally Monn monds" ransom. pense, intriguing. interesting and tal- fused by the kidnapper's motive: why This was ac- The kidnapper ig- ented actors. and a constantly moving kidnap the child of someone who is im- cording to police Staff Writer nores the state- plot that keeps viewers on their toes. Though far from the Holy Grail code. This ner, Jezzie says devastating to her parents, is, like her status of 'Silence of the Lambs,' School is tight as she'd just follow parents, not important enough to `Along Came a Spider' should not go a drum, security He Said him around ev- qualify as a 'crime of the century'. unnoticed in the realm of suspense cameras in al- Nick Heidenreich erywhere, any- Dimitri, however, being the son of the fiction adapted for the movies. Based most every way. Cross re- Russian ambassador... on the novel written by James room, and the A&E Editor plies, "If it's a To say more would give away Patterson, who also wrote the novel whole place choice between too much, and where's the fun in that inspired 1997's 'Kiss the Girls,' swarms with secret service agents. having you as a partner and as a that? 'Along Came a Spider' is ac- `Spider' stars Morgan Freeman, who Soneji makes his move, kidnapping stalker, I'll take my chances with a tion packed and suspenseful, and reprises his role as Detective Alex Megan, daughter of Senator Rose, partner." definitely sparks my interest in Cross. Near as I can tell, there are and sneaking her out (chloroformed Soneji assures the frightened checking out some of James five books by Patterson that follow of course) in a rolling shelf with hol- Megan that no harm will come to her, Patterson's books. Freeman, as al- Cross' character, 'Cat and Mouse,' lowed out computers on it. In the pro- and she is "merely a means to an ways, was excellent, and Monica Pot- Pop Goes the Weasel,' Jack and Jill,' cess, he kills a fellow teacher. end." As Cross and Jezzie dig deeper, ter met the role with more believabil- and, of course, these two films. Alex Cross, still bouncing back they find out how big and intricate ity than I think Angelina Jolie or Directed by Lee Tamahori, 'Spi- from a sting operation that went bad Soneji's 'web' is, and Cross says, Wynona Ryder (who I heard were der' is a story of kidnapping, double- eight months ago, and a partner who "He's been at this for years... Imag- vying for the part) would have. The crosses, and ambition. Jonathan died as a result, would hardly be the ine the patience, the dedication." real treat is Megan (Mika Boorem) Mercusio (Michael Wincott) has ideal candidate for this case, except "You sound like an admirer, " Jezzie who is played without the sudden spent years as Gary Soneji, a that Soneji calls him and says he says. "He's like a spider," Cross re- heroic adrenaline burst and unbe- teacher at Cathedral School (for the wants Cross to work on the case. He plies, "And I happen to like spiders." lievable intellect, but also not played children of rich, important politicians). wants Cross to find the clues, woven Soneji is trying to pull off the crime of like a meek little mouse. Her intelli- One rather impressive feature are the in so cleverly, so someone will ap- the century, a crime unheard of since gence and cleverness are accounted computers for every student in ev- preciate his handiwork. Jezzie the Lindbergh baby kidnapping. But for by her uberstandard education ery classroom. As Soneji teaches his Flannigan (Monica Potter), a secret Hank Rose is no Charles Lindbergh. and the many times underestimated class, his two brightest students, service agent whose prime respon- All this time, they've been asking what know-how of a kid in the new millen- Megan and Dimitri, are passing notes sibility was to guard Megan, insists it is about Soneji, when they nium. 'Spider' is a fast paced mys- with STEGO, a program that sends on helping out because of her fail- should've been asking what it is tery that leaves you with that seventh pictures with words interlaced in them ure to do her duty. While Cros is in about Megan. The answer: Nothing. inning plot twist that every good mys- that cannot be cracked without a no mood to have a new part- Megan's kidnapping, while very tery should have.