The X-Files: I Want to Believe

Opening Date: 07/25/2008

STUDIO: Fox

TRAILER: Trailer

ACCOMPLICES: Official Site

The Charge
To find the truth, you must believe.

Opening Statement
I’m beginning to lose faith in the ability of filmmakers to craft compelling continuations of once great franchises. With all the secrecy surrounding this latest installment of The X-Files, writer/director Chris Carter had fans believing he and co-writer Frank Spotnitz were about unleash a mesmerizing new adventure for Mulder and Scully, who had not been seen or heard from since the curtain came down on the series in May 2002. But when the lights came up following I Want to Believe, the thought that dominated the collective mind of what little audience remained was… “That’s it? Six years of waiting and that’s all you’ve got for us?”

Facts of the Case
Present day. Dr. Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) has left the FBI and returned to practicing medicine at Virginia’s Our Lady of Sorrows Hospital. But when the bureau is unable to locate Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) who they need to assist in finding a missing agent, they come to Scully for help. Our reluctant heroes team up once again, working alongside a disbarred priest turned psychic (Billy Connolly) and two hot young FBI agents (Amanda Peet and Xzibit), to track down their colleague before time runs out. Problem is, this missing woman is only the tip of a much more disturbing iceberg, one that will challenge the very belief systems Mulder and Scully hold dear.

The Evidence
The first question is obvious: Why all the secrecy? This isn’t Lost. If the film held any actual reveals, I can understand wanting to play them close to the vest, but there’s nothing here that warrants it. The X-Files: I Want to Believe is a wasted opportunity to relaunch the franchise. Chris and Frank had six years to craft the greatest X-File ever told and what shows up on screen is similar to what you’d get by waiting until the last minute to write a 100 page term paper.

Without giving anything away to the handful of people still planning to see it, there are no aliens, no monsters, and no things that go bump in the night. This is a human tale left over from Frank Black’s Millennium case files. Sure, it pushes all the right buttons by challenging Dana’s faith in God and stirring Fox’s insatiable quest for the truth, but there are a million different ways to do that and still make an epic adventure for audiences to enjoy. Instead, we get a small, dark film that is slow to unfold and leads to a very small payoff. Granted, Chris did not have a huge budget to work with, but this looks and feels like a poorly conceived two-part sweeps episode of the series. There’s nothing cinematic about it, which only adds to the disappointment. What’s worse, this isn’t a film for the unwashed masses. Those who have no investment in the lives of these characters are going to be bored out of their minds by this half baked script.

The connections between Scully’s stem cell subplot — a young boy with a seemingly incurable neurological disease — and the main story are not organic enough to be believable. The flirtatious crush Agent Whitney (Amanda Peet) has on Fox could have thrown a fascinating wrench into his still murky relationship with Dana, but it never goes anywhere. The hostility shown by several of the current FBI team for Fox is unnecessary. And the presence of gay, transgender, and sexual deviance elements combine for an uncomfortable homophobic overtone which may anger some audiences… and rightfully so.

It’s not a total loss, though. The character development between Fox and Dana is top notch. Very few people can write intimate personal moments for these two characters like Frank Spotnitz, and David and Gillian execute them flawlessly. The unseen events which have passed between them over the years underscore their present circumstances. These aren’t the same people we saw in that hotel room at the end of the series, and yet they are as familiar to us now as they were six years ago. Mulder and Scully were the heart and soul of the series, even when they weren’t on screen, and remain so today. If only they had a great story arc to ride on, this could have been a rewarding experience. But it’s not.

We’re not alone though. Twentieth Century Fox executives aren’t enjoying themselves either. The film will be lucky to break even and it’s highly doubtful we’ll see another big screen adventure, which is frustrating given the untapped potential this franchise still holds.

Closing Statement
I still believe in the creative foundation upon which The X-Files franchise was built. But more than 200 hours of great television deserves a better send off than this 105 min big screen disappointment.

The Verdict
The X-Files: I Want to Believe is found guilty of misappropriation of funds, but its characters are free to fight another day… in whatever form and venue that might take place.

6/10

Previewing The X-Files: I Want to Believe
Sunday, June 22
Majestic Crest Theatre, Westwood, CA

Panelists: David Duchovny, Chris Carter, Frank Spotnitz

It was a rabid female-centric fan base that descended upon the Majestic Crest Theatre the night of June 22, as Fox teased us with two extended clips from The X-Files: I Want to Believe. Given the closely guarded nature of the script, neither revealed much more than we already knew from the theatrical trailer, with Billy Connolly front and center, helping the FBI track a missing person in the snow packed wilderness of the Northeast United States. What we did get was a bit of dialogue between Mulder and Scully and, despite the years that have passed between these two characters, some of the same issues still seem to persist.

Following the clips, Entertainment Weekly welcomed David Duchovny, Chris Carter (creator, director, co-writer), and Frank Spotnitz (executive producer, co-writer) for a moderated discussion. Given the amount of screaming and cheering going on, if felt more like a rock concert than film festival. For many fans, these three gentlemen are rock stars, giving them nine years of a television series that’s as vibrant today as it was 10 or 15 years ago. But how does one talk about a film that has not yet been released, and whose most minute story elements are more closely guarded than most NSA White House briefings? That was the challenge.

Building off much of the same information revealed during The X-Files evening at this year’s Paley Fest, Chris reiterated that this script was conceived back in 2002, but shelved due to legal challenges. Earlier this year, literally within an hour of the law suit being settled, Fox was on the phone with Chris saying “if you want to make the movie, it’s now or never.” With the WGA strike looming on the horizon, Chris and Frank quickly got started. The only problem was that their original story notes had since disappeared, forcing them to reimagine the tale; something both feel made it a much stronger picture.

Chris had wanted to work with Billy for quite some time and they wrote this character with him in mind. Frank had been watching Amanda Peet on Studio 60 and felt she was perfect for the role. And Xzibit was a discovery during the casting process, with neither of them knowing he had written a song referencing the show. “And he pimped out Chris’ car,” David quipped.

There was little to no rehearsal prior to shooting. The principals met at Chris’ house for the initial read-through and then spent several days talking out the characters and how time and experienced has changed them since we last met. Looking back, Frank is astonished at how much they put Mulder and Scully through over the life of the series. But regardless of the circumstances, the organic authenticity of their relationship hasn’t changed. The key was re-establishing the trust between them. David was especially pleased with the decision to let time progress naturally, because going back and trying to play the Mulder of 10 years ago would have been “embarrassing,” belying the life experience both he and the character have been shaped by during that time. At his core, Mulder remains a “quest hero,” unsatiated by the surface appearance of life, continually searching for the answers that lie beneath, and savoring small victories along the way. Most importantly, David is proud of “still being able to watch the show and not gag. We got better. We’re still getting better.”

Given this has been another summer of sequels, remakes, and adaptations, everyone was quick to point out this is not a “nostalgia film.” Yes, there will be plenty of tidbits only true fans will pick up on, but as David puts it “I’ve only seen it on a monitor at Chris’ house, but this is a classic thriller and one hell of a good film.” He went on to say “it harkens back to the show’s origins,” which if you were a fan of the first two or three seasons was a real creepfest. There was nothing like it on television at that time, and gave people a reason to stay home on Friday nights.

The X-Files: I Want to Believe opens July 25 and Chris reiterates that the secrecy surrounding the picture is a benevolent attempt to preserve the adventure and its many reveals for the darkness of the theatre. Fox publicity reps were present and assure everyone that a major marketing campaign is forthcoming. In their words, “by July 25, everyone will know about The X-Files.” We shall see, because up till now, it’s been very quiet. The studio is releasing an eight episode compilation DVD entitled The X-Files: Revelations on July 1, giving newcomers to the franchise a primer on the characters and their defining adventures. Also look for a Mulder blog to appear on the official site in the coming weeks.

Depending on the film’s success at the box office, another may follow. As Chris says, “It’s setup for another film,” with the story possibly focusing on the prophecised 2012 world event, as prophecized by the end of the Mayan calendar and referred to by many other religious and spiritual texts.