K-PAX

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K-PAX ★★½ 2001 (PG-13)

Spacey plays his patented “smirky guy with a secret” again in this tale of aliens and the humans who love them. Prot (Spacey) is admitted to a psychiatric hospital when he claims to be from outer space. Dr. Powell (Bridges) is assigned his case and soon finds himself intrigued by Prot. It seems that he's going around helping the patients in the hospital to actually get better. His other quirks include an astounding knowledge of astrophysics and an amazing tolerance to Thorazine. After Powell hypnotizes Prot, a deeply hidden personality is unmasked, but the actual truth about his identity is left open to interpretation. Bridges and Spacey work well together, and they save this sentimental E.T. tale from turning to schmaltzy mush. 120m/C VHS, DVD . US Kevin Spacey, Jeff Bridges, Mary McCormack, Alfre Woodard, David Patrick Kelly, Saul Williams, Peter Gerety, Celia Weston, Ajay Naidu, John Toles-Bey, Kimberly Scott, Mary Mara, Aaron Paul, William Lucking; D: Iain Softley; W: Charles Leavitt; C: John Mathieson; M: Ed Shearmur.