Editor’s note: This section will now include films, industry people and events that tie Hollywood to Hawai‘i. In the mid 1990s, Kaua‘i once again hosted a number of the world’s biggest movie stars. This time, it was legendary Dustin Hoffman
Editor’s note: This section will now include films, industry people and events that tie Hollywood to Hawai‘i.
In the mid 1990s, Kaua‘i once again hosted a number of the world’s biggest movie stars. This time, it was legendary Dustin Hoffman (Oscar for “Rain Man”) and a younger actor (heavily on the rise), Kevin Spacey (Oscar for “American Beauty”) in “Outbreak.”
The supporting talent was Patrick Dempsey (before “Grey’s Anatomy”), Cuba Gooding Jr. ( Oscar for “Jerry Maguire”) and two Hollywood giants: Donald Sutherland (“Mash”) and Morgan Freeman (“Glory”). The film was directed by Wolfgang Petersen (“Das Boot”).
Although most of the Kaua‘i scenes are not meant to be Kaua‘i, we see our beloved valleys, mountains and skies throughout the film. I recently watched the movie on television and can’t believe Dustin Hoffman and Kevin Spacey were doing their thing on the Garden Isle.
The movie’s plot is actually scary. This is one of those films that would be a B movie without the A-list talent and actors on the rise. Patrick Dempsey’s character buys a monkey imported from abroad and introduces he monkey back into the United States via a pet store.
The problem? If the monkey bites or scratches you, you die.
The disease and situation get worse when they believe this new disease may start becoming airborne.
Hoffman, Spacey and Gooding play scientists working to find a cure. There is a small subtextual feeling that this movie was meant to be about AIDS, but executives know people were too scared at the time to see another film tackling the taboo topic (even though the film “Philadelphia” in 1993 tackled it perfectly).
The movie also tries to build drama on a small conflict (seemingly thrown in to have Sutherland and Freeman performing together) between two military officers in charge of theoperation.
Both Sutherland and Freeman turn in performances worth our time and, overall, the movie does the scary subject matter justice.
Next week, this column will be about the legendary final collaboration of John Wayne and master American film director John Ford, a four-time Oscar winner most known for “The Grapes of Wrath.”
This movie will bring us smiles and gentle giggles as we see Nawiliwili and Hanama’ulu beach like many of us never have.
• Paul Booth of Lihu‘e is a Kaua‘i Community College graduate, film producer and consultant. He can be reached at pkb_1@hotmail.com.
