The Lead

Author(s): Brian
Location: AZ

"The Lead"

Directed by David Fincher
Written by Eric Roth
Produced by David Fincher and Kathleen Kennedy
Music by Danny Elfman

Main Cast
Emma Thompson (Jean Burrows)
Leonardo DiCaprio (Zach Winston)
Michael Clarke Duncan (Harold Verner)
Gary Sinise (Spencer Lashton)
Angela Bassett (Harmony)

Tagline: "He will do anything to stop her. She will do anything to stop everything"

Synopsis: America is a nation in ruins. There have been six terrorist attacks in the past ten years. All hope is gone. And that is all because of Jean Burrows. Ms. Burrows has single-handedly staged every one of these attacks, and no one, except for her servant, Spencer Lashton, knows about them. She maintains that by continuously sending out false leads to the FBI as to the whereabouts of the person behind the attacks. And every time, the leads result in death. And, if she has the slightest sense that anyone is catching on to her, she will personally murder them. But this time, she is not going to need to do any of that. Because this time, she has a doomsday device prepared; the result of 20 years of work. If all goes as planned, the world will come to a screeching halt.No one knows about Burrows’ plans. No one at the FBI, CIA or Department of Homeland Security has any idea that they are living their last few days. Except for one man: Zach Winston. He had heard the news from Harmony, a friend of his parents with some ties to Burrows, who had been mysteriously murdered directly after she reported the crime. Unfortunately, no one at the agency except his assistant, Harold Verner, believes him. And yet, Zach refuses to give up. And so, with nothing other than an earpiece with a connection to talk to Harold, Zach sets off for the terrorist’s alleged home.Burrows, who, several years ago, planted a secret bugging device in the FBI headquarters, is infuriated to hear that her cover has been blown. Worse, she has no idea what to do. She needs to stay at her home in order to make the final touches on her WMD. She finds that the only thing she can do is let him come, and attempt to prove to him that she is not who she is—at least until she sets off the doomsday device. And so, she does. In addition, she sets deathtraps throughout the house so as to make his stay shorter. The success of her schemes will either be proven or else crumble apart in this edge-of-your-seat thriller.

What the Press would say:
If you pick up a newspaper and skip to the section with movie ads, you will see at least two or three films that have quotes like “A top-notch thriller” or “A nail-biting thriller” branded atop the poster. They might as well just say “The Lead.” This new cinematic phenomenon from David Fincher is the smartest, most exciting and creepiest film in at least a decade. That is solely due to the story’s villain, Jean Burrows. Burrows, a terrorist preparing a nuclear weapon with the capability to destroy the earth, is on par with Hannibal Lecter and Darth Vader as one of the vilest, most sadistic and most intelligent characters ever put on screen.Part of the reason that Burrows comes off as so evil is because of Emma Thompson’s exceptional performance. We see a side of her we have always been curious about, but have never before seen. Her reserve and classiness give the character that x-factor in making a great villain. They say that your villain is only as evil as your hero is heroic. “The Lead” proves that right, as well. Zach Winston, the FBI agent determined to stop Burrows, is a thoroughly likeable man who will go to any length to save his fellow man. Leonardo DiCaprio, in the best performance of his career so far, gives an impressively multi-layered performance that will surely win him an Oscar. Most of the film is just between Thompson and DiCaprio (whom, may I add, have the best chemistry of any two actors this year), but Michael Clarke Duncan gives a small but very meaningful performance as DiCaprio’s assistant who guides him through Burrows’ house. He steals each and every one of his scenes.“The Lead” is a non-stop thrill ride. Easily the best movie of the past few years and the best thriller of the decade, it should have no problem sweeping the Oscars in the following categories…

Best Picture
Best Director (David Fincher)
Best Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio)
Best Actress (Emma Thompson)
Best Supporting Actor (Michael Clarke Duncan)
Best Original Screenplay
Best Film Editing
Best Cinematography
Best Costume Design
Best Art Direction
Best Sound Mixing
Best Sound Editing