Sphere Movie Review 1997

It must've looked good on paper, but bringing Michael Crichton's decade-old novel to the screen turned out to be a big mistake for all involved. Hoffman, Jackson, and Stone are a team of researchers sent underwater to investigate a mysterious 300-year-old space ship. After realizing the ship has American origins, they stumble across a huge liquid metal sphere that can make their deepest fears come true, in the form of huge squids and sea snakes. Never lives up to the promising premise or high-class looks. Despite three mega-stars and an A-list director, it's a hollow excursion low on thrills and originality, but there's plenty of existential ramblings about the power of the mind.

Distribution

Warner Home Video, Inc., 5775 Linder Canyon Rd., Westlake Village, CA 91362, URL: http://whv.warnerbros.com, Remarks: Does not handle retail queries from consumers; contact your local video distributor.

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 152 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Sci Fi, Suspense, Shrinks, Mathemagicians, Books to Film: Michael Crichton, Killer Sea Critters, Big-Budget Bombs, Science & Scientists

Screenplay

Paul Attanasio, Stephen Hauser

Cast

Dustin Hoffman, Sharon Stone, Samuel L. Jackson, Peter Coyote, Queen Latifah, Liev Schreiber

Cinematography

Adam Greenberg

Director

Barry Levinson

Music

Elliot Goldenthal

Producer

Andrew Wald, Barry Levinson, Michael Crichton, Baltimore Pictures, Constant C Productions, Punch Productions, Warner Bros.