Script Review: THE HOLLOW MAN - By Andrew W. Marlowe (revised draft, 6/26/98)

by Christopher Wehner

WARNING: SPOILERS!

(06/23/00)

Screenwriter Notes: Andrew W. Marlowe graduated from the University of Columbia with a degree in English Literature. His previous credits include: AIR FORCE ONE (1997) and END OF DAYS (1999) for which he also earned a co-producer credit.

Review: There has been some serious hype building about this movie, which opens August 4, 2000. THE HOLLOW MAN refers to T.S. Elliot (poet/playwright) as it is mentioned in his collected works. The movie is not an adaptation, it borrows the name as basically a metaphor for what Kevin Bacon’s character becomes. Bacon plays Sebastian Caine, a scientist working for the government to develop "invisibility." The rest of the important cast breaks down like this: Elisabeth Shue (she’s a favorite of mine and I hope she does well) plays Linda Foster, Caine’s former lover. She is now having a secret relationship with Matt Kensington, played by Josh Brolin. This becomes a subplot that comes together nicely when Caine makes himself invisible, he learns of their affair and wants to end it. They are all scientists working together, with several others, on the project.

Marlowe opens his story nicely with a very detailed description of a rat’s death from an invisible predator, created by Caine and his team. The hook is right there, as a reader you become intrigued. The first character we meet is obviously Caine, the boy genius. His description is "late twenties," Kevin Bacon turns 42 in July. As a screenwriter you want to place as few restrictions on your characters as possible. Do not go into too much detail. Give us a glimpse. Marlow clearly intended this character to be played by a DiCaprio, not a Bacon. Which really doesn’t make much sense, a young scientist would be in his/her forties. So lets call him the young man genius.

After the rat’s death we meet Caine, who is working on the formula for making a human invisible. It’s late, he’s tired… he’s drinking coffee and sucking the creamy center out of twinkies. His formula is not working "Damnit!," he mumbles in frustration. He throws himself away from the computer just in time to notice someone out his window in another apartment. (Very quickly we’re getting several things, foreshadowing and a quick character comparison that will serve us at a latter time.) A "Brunette" is undressing, Caine watches every button being undone until at the last moment, before the garden is seen, she lowers the shades "Damnit," I mumbled along with him. Caine flops onto his bed, pondering sleep, when on the ceiling we see written, "You should be working." This is pretty much the extent of character development for Caine. The script is seriously lacking in this respect, but we need to remember THE HOLLOW MAN is a Sci-Fi/thriller, only so much time nowadays for nonsense like character development in these types of stories.

Marlowe does an excellent job of painting the canvas, regardless of how lacking in detail. The flow of the script is very good, his command of the story is excellent. But from basically page two, till 92, there is an underlining sexual aberration that was hard to overcome as a reader. Marlowe’s writing isn’t very creative in this respect. Once invisible about all Caine can come up with is groping, raping, and tormenting women. Would a man, if guaranteed that he would not be caught, rape a women? That’s a hell of a question. I hope you want to know, because according to Marlowe the answer is yes. As a matter of fact, it’s the very first thing Caine does just about. He wasn’t insane. Not yet at least. There are some serious moral issues at stake in this story and Marlowe barely attempts to flush these out.

Don’t get me completely wrong, the script is written very well. When Caine says, "You have no idea what it’s like. The power of it. The freedom. I can’t let that go.’ I got chills, the thoughts racing through my head… wow.

Marlowe barely touches the surface of the moral issues and the "what ifs," wasting his time instead leading Caine around from one women to the next. Okay, I’m exaggerating some, but it was disgusting at one point. Would someone do that, sure, do we need to see it several times, no. This is where the cop-out comes, when in doubt make your bad guy out to be "crazy." Marlowe justifies his villain’s behavior by letting us believe that he has some kind of a "psychological breakdown." That’s all Marlowe could come up with? The formula went straight to his head, c’mon.

Thankfully from what I’m hearing the movie doesn’t make the rape scene, and others, as disturbing as they could be. My problem wasn’t just the lack of effort, or caring on Marlowe’s part, but the fact that his imagination in this respect lacked so much, especially when compared to the exciting and intense ending. Marlowe has the ability to be so creative. Oh well, onward to the second and the third acts.

Caine convinced his staff to allow him to test the formula before revealing to the "generals" that they had uncovered the secret to making someone invisible. He was concerned that he would lose control if they found out, and his character is really big on control we discover.

So begrudgingly they go along and succeed, only they can’t bring him back. For weeks he stays invisible, he begins to have his "psychological breakdown." There are some incredibly chilling scenes, executed very nicely. Marlowe has a great sense for tension, and weaves his story well.

This story will make a good movie if done well, it’s directed by Paul Verhoeven (ROBO COP, BASIC INSTINCT, STARSHIP TROOPERS) who is getting good reviews on the web for his work on this film. I’ve absolutely hated some of his work, most of all SHOWGIRLS. There is plenty of suspense and a surprising amount of pure terror that will rival any horror movie. Though it is listed as Science-Fiction, I felt the script was lacking in detail and believability. There are some great opportunities in the script for special effects. It should be a fun ride.