Panic (2000)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Cynthia S

  
  A pleasant offbeat film with wonderful William H. Macy. Very enjoyable.

• Melvin W

  
  Panic is a relatively unknown movie, but a very good one. William H. Macys performance is easily his best besides his role in Fargo. He plays a hit man who is going through a midlife crisis. He has a wife, who he loves, and a son who he loves more than anything else. He is a contract… More
  Panic is a relatively unknown movie, but a very good one. William H. Macys performance is easily his best besides his role in Fargo. He plays a hit man who is going through a midlife crisis. He has a wife, who he loves, and a son who he loves more than anything else. He is a contract killer in his fathers business and that leads to the sticky situation that he is in. He wants out, but how. He can't let down his father. The rest of the cast is pretty stellar as well. John Ritter plays a psychologist, Donald Sutherland is the father, and Neve Campbell plays a love interest. Panic was a lot better than I had thought it was going to be.

• Nate Z

  
  [font=Arial][color=darkred]The story behind 'Panic' goes something like this. The film was dropped by Artisan because they got test screening results back and apparently it wasn't what they wanted. After this set-back it was going to be dumped to the wasteland of direct… More
  [font=Arial][color=darkred]The story behind 'Panic' goes something like this. The film was dropped by Artisan because they got test screening results back and apparently it wasn't what they wanted. After this set-back it was going to be dumped to the wasteland of direct to cable like so many other troublesome pictures studios feel would not earn a buck if they were bleeding on the side of the road. After some fighting, particularly from critic Roger Ebert, a production house decided to distribute 'Panic' in a very limited release. So what does this cinematic game of musical chairs mean? It means if you have a chance see this film.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]'Panic' is a story about characters first and foremost. William H. Macy plays the son end of a father-son team of hitmen, with Donald Sutherland as the oppressive patriarch. Macy is a man who is never truly happy, almost like it is an impossibility for him at this point in his life. His wife (Tracey Ullman) is flaky and gives into her paranoia of her hubby having an affair with a younger chickadee. Macy meets an attractive and mysterious ingenue (Neve Campbell) while waiting for therapy. He begins on an obsession he can't explain and fantasizes about her as the escape and ticket to happiness that is outside his reach.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]The acting is as rich as the characters. Macy plays low-key but suits the subservient ghost that his character has become. Sutherland is haunting as the controlling father figure and the flashbacks between him and young Macy are disturbing as he plants his seed of control. Even at age six Macy's character is referring to his father with "sir" tagged to the end of every sentence.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]Neve's character is the most depthful she's ever been dealt - though her runner up is a girl constantly chased by men in black robes with knives. Ullman is a nice presence and the audience really can sympathize with her. The child who plays the son of Macy and Ullman is one of the most adorable child actors I have ever seen. He lights up the screen every time he is present.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]The story is brisk at a mere hour and a half. It is written and directed by a former writer of 'Northern Exposure' and 'Homicide' and the attention to characters shows. The film moves not through plot occurrences but through characters acting. When Macy discovers that the final hit he has to do is on his own therapist (John Ritter) his journey is one involving everyone around him in his life. The strains and pulls on this man are encompassing to watch.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]'Panic' is a glimpse at a quiet movie told about the life of a man caught in his father's grasp. Macy is a man conditioned to saying "he's sorry" even if it is not deserved. His character is rich and 'Panic' is a strongly acted gem if you can locate it.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]Nate's Grade: B+ [/color][/font]

• Mark A

  
  William H Macy hits another one out of the park. Strong performance. Southerland and Bain were excellent as well. Tracy Ullman's talents were under-utilized. One wonders whether this was inspired by the Sopranos. Alex lacks the swagger, but the premise is similar. A middle-aged… More
  William H Macy hits another one out of the park. Strong performance. Southerland and Bain were excellent as well. Tracy Ullman's talents were under-utilized. One wonders whether this was inspired by the Sopranos. Alex lacks the swagger, but the premise is similar. A middle-aged hit man doubts the direction his life has taken and begins to see a shrink. His domineering mother and father add pressure to his life until he reaches the breaking point. Dark, moody, excellent character study.

• Stephen E

  
  "Panic" doesn't seem like much, and really isn't, but it's likable, and is a simple and well-acted character study. William H. Macy has an honest performance, while Sutherland excels as the manipulative father. Also, child actor David Dorfman does an… More
  "Panic" doesn't seem like much, and really isn't, but it's likable, and is a simple and well-acted character study. William H. Macy has an honest performance, while Sutherland excels as the manipulative father. Also, child actor David Dorfman does an exceptional job.