Waking The Dead MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +2 1/2 Content: -3

Congressional candidate Fielding Pierce (Billy Crudup) is close to realizing his dream of making it to Washington. But he begins to have visions and hear the voice of his girlfriend, Sarah (Jennifer Connelly), who died in a car accident eight years earlier. He even thinks he sees her walking by him in crowds. So he begins to question the events surrounding her death and wonders if she made it out alive. And, for some unknown reason, she has never contacted him. As he confides in his family, they make statements that encourage his uncertainty whether Sarah actually died. But is he going crazy, or has he really seen her? Borrowing from the film classic Gaslight, writer/director Keith Gordon makes the non-linear storytelling work as he tracks Fieldings descent into perceived insanity. This compelling mystery should keep audiences riveted.

Fieldings political candidacy is based on his desire to be an honest politician serving the people well. Often encouraged by the establishment to take a lower road, he holds up under pressure and doesnt give in to big money supporters of his campaign. Sarah, too, has a lifelong dream to serve others through the church mission to the poor and needy. An extremely bright and educated young woman who could conceivably make lots of money, she opts instead for a no-glory, no-money job, working for a mission in inner city Chicago. However, her image as a role model is tarnished as shes shown to have a live-in, sexual relationship with her boyfriend. Two graphic sex scenes, one with female nudity, are shown. Another scene shows Sarah stimulating herself as she wishes for her boyfriend to be there. Vulgar dialogue is used liberally with 26 f-words and ten regular profanities. While Sarah and Fielding demonstrate many good traits, the graphic sexual content and foul language make WAKING THE DEAD dead on arrival.

Preview Reviewer: John Adair
Distributor: Gramercy Pictures, 9247 Alden Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90210