Denzel Washington's John Q faces tough competition

Arthur J Pais

Most critics blasted it as being too sentimental, but Denzel Washington-starrer John Q is a box office winner across America.

The film was pushed to second place this week by the vampire drama Queen Of The Damned, but it is likely to bounce back next week.

Most horror films lose about 40 per cent of their box office in the second week. Queen Of The Damned, an anaemic version of the Anne Rice novel, might not have enjoyed a $15 million opening but for the death of its lead player (singer Aaliyah) in a plane crash a few months ago.

The reason for John Q's appeal to Americans across the country is partly because of yet another solid performance by Denzel Washington, Oscar nominee for Training Day. Also because of its theme --- the problems of millions of insurance-less Americans.

The $35 million film grossed about $40 million in its first ten days and is headed for a healthy $75 million run.

Washington plays John Q Archibald, a factory worker for whom wife Denise and son Michael mean the world. When Michael needs an emergency heart transplant operation John can't afford and his health insurance won't cover, he decides to do anything to save his son.

When reasonable options fail, John Q takes a desperate gamble: he barricades himself inside the hospital with a group of emergency room hostages. His agony is all the more acute as his hostages need urgent medical attention. He also faces off with a veteran police hostage negotiator and a sharp-tempered police chief determined to end the standoff.

The success of John Q is not a surprise to box office pundits. Some of the more successful films are highly melodramatic.

A few years ago, Robin Williams' Patch Adams, drubbed by most critics for being an emotional manipulator, turned out to be a $120 million hit.

On the other hand, there was some surprise that the Aaliyah film opened with decent numbers, persistant rumours that it was destined to video stores notwithstanding.

The film, which cost about $40 million, could break when DVD and video sales are factored in.

While the 1994 Tom Cruise thriller Interview With A Vampire was a box office hit worldwide, grossing $250 million, it remained a mystery why a second film based on Anne Rice's best-selling Vampire Chronicles took a long time to come out.

In Queen Of The Damned, the legendary vampire Lestat (Stuart Townsend) reinvents himself as a rock star in contemporary America. Lestat's music inspires Akasha (Aaliyah), queen of all vampires, whose evil power is so great that all immortal vampires must unite against her if they hope to survive. Akasha makes Lestat her king but Jesse (Marguerite Moreau), a young woman compelled by the darker side of life, falls in love with him, complicating the situation.

While the film isn't as bad as the rumours indicate, the more discerning cinegoers may find it toothless. The film is too loud, lacks coherent narration and has poor performances.

Stuart Townsend does not have to be a Tom Cruise but he is utterly disappointing. Aaliyah, the main draw for the film, doesn't have much to do, either.