MovieChat Forums > Final Analysis (1992) Discussion > Final Primal Analysis Fear

Final Primal Analysis Fear

posted 13 years ago by richardsixone
4 replies | jump to latest

Having watched this again recently and not having been all that impressed, it does seem like a bit of a dry run for Primal Fear.

Gere plays basically the same character, an upstanding lawyer who gets suckered into a premediated murder plot. He's defending someone who is not responsible for the murder they committed due to a medical/psychological condition but then it turns out they knew what they were doing all along.

ok, Gere doesn't sleep with Norton but the similarities are there. If anything, the plot of final analysis is more complex but primal fear is remains well-known whereas FA is largely forgotten.

why? well, gere is on better form in PF and norton is a much better supporting actor than basinger/thurman/roberts. plus FA has a tendency to focus on style over substance whereas PF is the reverse.

[–] exatera 13 years ago

There are indeed many similarities, and yes, none of those actors can compare to Edward Norton, but it's not just that. I'd say FA's downfall was the never-ending twists. How many did the movie end up having? In the end, it was just ridiculous instead of captivating.

[–] BoSoxRule 12 years ago

Gere doesn't play a lawyer in Final Analysis.

I'm happiest...in the saddle.

[–] spookyrat1 9 years ago

No, but she plays a psych. whose best friend is a lawyer. I agree that there are a few similarities between the two films.🐭

[–] hnt_dnl 8 years ago

I kind of like this movie as a time passer. Just saw again recently and enjoyed it, and the general similarities to Primal Fear struck me with Gere being played by a character he became emotionally invested in. However, Primal Fear, is SO much better than this. This movie helped me realize how incredibly underrated Gere was in that film. Norton should have won Best Supporting Actor, for sure, but Gere was excellent as well.