Bob Hoskins and Elaine Cassidy in "Felicia's Journey."

MOVIE INFORMATION

With 10 as a must-see, Jack gives this film a: Stars: Bob Hoskins Director: Atom Egoyan Rated: PG-13, with violence and profanity Length: 114 minutes

ROCHESTERCRITIQUE

Having seen this film, how would you rate it? 10 5 9 4 8 3 7 2 6 1

By Jack Garner
Democrat and Chronicle

(Nov. 24, 1999) -- Joseph Hilditch is a fascinating screen character, a quirky, soft-spoken eccentric with a passion for cooking and a kindly, helpful manner.

He loves to befriend lost and lonely young women -- and then he kills them.

Hilditch, played with Oscar-worthy sensitivity by Bob Hoskins, is the central character in Felicia's Journey, an engrossing new thriller in a Hitchcockian mode. It's the most accessible film yet from challenging filmmaker Atom Egoyan, creator of The Sweet Hereafter, and he cleverly adapted the film from William Trevor's novel.

As it opens, the pregnant young Irish girl, Felicia (Elaine Cassidy), travels to Birmingham, England, to search for the boyfriend who impregnated her. She believes he has come to England to work in a factory; in truth, he's joined the British army, which is why Felicia's Irish family cast her out.

Wandering around Birmingham, Felicia runs into the warmly helpful Mr. Hilditch, and he gradually wins her over with his advice and assistance.

We know, of course, that he has ulterior motives.

As Felicia's Journey explores the relationship between the young girl and the sweet but ominous Hilditch, Egoyan employs an unusual form of flashbacks to provide insight into the man's tragically warped psyche.

In an expansion of Trevor's story, Egoyan has created a past for Hilditch that includes a mother who once had a popular cooking show on English TV. As the Hilditch of today prepares his elaborate evening meals, he follows instructions from his late mother on videotapes of the show.

Through the tapes and Hilditch's own memories, we learn of her domineering, obsessive nature. (She's marvelously played by Egoyan's wife, Arsinee Khanjian.)

But the innocent young Felicia also has a telling effect on Hilditch, triggering a powerful, suspenseful and poignant finale.

Felicia's Journey has a lot going for it, from Egoyan's artful script and direction to its fine cast. But its soul is found in Hoskins' portrayal.

Most of us only know the Cockney veteran for his explosive dramatic performances in working-class or gangster roles, or his comic turn in Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

Here, Hoskins finds a range of different colors and emotions to explore. Generating moments of humor, sadness and terror, he gives us one of the most insightful and affecting portrayals of a troubled and dangerous soul we're ever likely to see.