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(from the shadows in Scully's bedroom as she is taking off her shirt, unaware of his presence) "Keep going FBI woman."
-MulderThe X Files
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 Released: 1997
Jake Nickolson-becomes a werewolf in this bizarre comedy-horror film directed by Mike Nichols. Nicholson plays Will Randall, a book editor with a testosterone deficit who has just been sacked at his publishing firm by a new boss, Raymond Alden (Christopher Plummer). A colleague, Stewart Swinton (James Spader), whom Randall thought was his friend, betrays him. Randall's personality changes after he hits a wolf with his car and gets bitten by the creature. He immediately feels more powerful, has heightened hearing and vision, and sets about to right the wrongs in his life. He visits Alden at the publisher's mansion to protest his dismissal, and he is asked to leave but Alden's daughter Laura (Michelle Pfeiffer) asks him to stay for lunch. Laura loves to defy her father. Will tells her about the wolf bite, and she becomes attracted to him. But because werewolves usually kill the ones they love, Laura is in danger. Will reasserts his place in the publishing world, supported by his loyal secretary Mary (Eileen Atkins), and his relationship with Laura deepens. Michael Betzold
Mike Nichols' version of the Jim Harrison novel is a witty, intelligent, and beautifully made film that doesn't quite come off. Jack Nicholson stars as a book editor who begins to display strangely lupine characteristics after being bitten by a wolf. With renewed aggression, he begins to go after the hypocritical yuppie James Spader who had recently ousted him from his job. For about the first hour the movie is slyly entertaining, with its caustic dissection of the Darwinian nature of office politics, and Nicholson's growing awareness that his slow transformation into a wolf can have its advantages. At this point the changes are slight enough that the satiric tone remains grounded in reality. As the film progresses, though, moving closer to the realm of the traditional horror movie's myth and fantasy trappings, relationships become more unbelievable and it's more difficult to know what the filmmakers are trying to say. Nicholson, who seems to be loving every minute, gives a superbly modulated performance as the wronged editor, and Spader is excellent as his unctuously backstabbing nemesis. Michelle Pfeiffer, however, is hamstrung by a character that seems hollow and underwritten. Although the film leaves one with a sense of vague dissatisfaction, there is still much here to enjoy.
ACTORS--below!!!!!!!!
Jack Nicholson - Will Randall
Michelle Pfeiffer - Laura Alden
James Spader - Stewart Swinton
Kate Nelligan - Charlotte Randall
Richard Jenkins - Detective Bridger
Christopher Plummer - Raymond Alden
Eileen Atkins - Mary
David Hyde Pierce - Roy
Om Puri - Dr. Vijay Alezias
Ron Rifkin - Doctor
Prunella Scales - Maude
Allison Janney - Party Guest
Joanna Sanchez - Receptionist
David Schwimmer - Cop
Peter Gerety - George
Lisa Emery - Party Guest
Jose Soto - Gang Member
Ellen Lewis
Stewart J. Zully - Gary
Juliet Taylor
Oz Perkins - Cop
Thomas F. Duffy - Tom
Bradford English - Keyes
Irene Forrest - Office Worker
Christopher Birt - Cop
Starletta DuPois - Victim's Mother
Lia Chang - Desk Clerk
Eva Rodriguez - Maid
Jennifer Nicholson - Office Worker
Cynthia O'Neal - Party Guest
Madhur Jaffrey - Party Guest
Brian Markinson - Detective Wade
Kirby Mitchell - Party Guest
Dwayne McClary - Gang Member
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