Starring Jodie Foster, Kristen Stewart, Forest Whitaker, Jared Leto, Dwight Yoakam. Directed by David Fincher. Meg Altman (Foster) has just split up with her rich, pharmaceutical magnate husband Steven, who has traded her in for a young model. She and her daughter Sarah (Stewart) are moving into a spacious Manhatten brownstone, formerly owned by a recently deceased reclusive and rich old man. Included in the house is a thick steel enclosed panic room, a safe haven from any home invaders. In their first night in their new home, three men enter the house. Meg grabs Sarah and darts inside the panic room. She tells the burglars over the P.A. to take whatever they want and leave. The problem is, what they want is buried inside the panic room: millions of dollars hidden by the former owner. One of the burglars is former owner's son Junior (Leto), who knew of the hidden riches. He has brought a man named Burnham (Whitaker) who installs and knows panic rooms, whose own marital breakup financial needs has motivated his involvement. He also invited a last minute helper - Raoul (Yoakim), a psychopathic bus driver with a gun. None of the three are professional burglars, and it shows in their Home Alone style ineptness in trying to figure out ways of flushing the women out. But will the boys get their money? Director Fincher is known for creating stylish, beautifully made films from Alien Resurrection to Seven that are not as deep as they seem. Panic Room is no exception. Early in the film when the burglars enter the house, an interesting, obviously computer-enhanced crane shot moves through the entire first floor of the house, nicely indicating the size of the home and the nice things contained within. Several sequences are beautifully rendered including a number of camera trips through phone wires and air ducts, plus a fire scene when the burglars try to gas the Meg and Sarah out of the panic room, and instead Meg sparks an explosion inside and outside the room. Obvious implausibilities. It seems so many thrillers, even some of the better ones, cannot avoid them. The first time in the panic room, Meg experiences claustrophobia immediately after the door is closed, but it is never occurs or comes up again later for the hours she is inside with Sarah. It is one of those things that wasn't important to the story and didn't need to be brought up in the first place. Meg calls Steven for help and he actually shows up - without the cops. Which allows for the bad guys to rough him up and provide another pressure point to force Meg and Sarah out of the panic room. And the ending. So as not to spoil it for anyone, I won't describe it. But one of burglars, with millions in his hands and just about to go over the wall, decides to do something completely ridiculous. And the cavalry comes to the rescue when there is no basis for them coming, just in the nick of time. Oh, and the inclusion of Sarah's diabetes is way too manipulative a way of moving the plot along. One positive point in the films defence: several times characters point out when they have made obvious blunders. For example, Raoul chides Burnham when he asks him why they didn't smash all the cameras that allow the occupants of the panic room see what's happening within the house. The film is aided by some fine performances led by Jodie Foster. She's sympathetic, strong and never goes over the top . And she looks very good in her tank top. Very good. Kristen Stewart is also strong as the spoiled but inherently good kid caught in the middle of the angry divorce . A strength in the script is that the exchanges between the two is brief and many of their emotions and thoughts are conveyed through looks and gestures and not sappy dialogue. Whitaker is very strong as the good-natured sympathetic burglar who just needs the money and doesn't want to hurt anybody. Leto seems to be on speed and rages over the top most of the time. Yoakim is fine but the character he play isn't - a soulless, psychopathic city bus driver. Yeah, that's believable. Panic Room is an adequate thriller blessed with Jodie Foster, some good performances, lots of style and an interesting if familiar premise, but it is undermined by an implausible ending and unlikely plot turns. It's not bad but it's not something I'd recommend you go rush and see. If you would like to respond, please click the E-Mail Press Here To Go To The Review List Page