Twister Review

Twister

Release Date: 30th May 1996 - Australia

Production Companies

Universal Pictures (present)

Warner Bros. Pictures (present)

Amblin Entertainment

Distribution

Universal Pictures Australia

Genre: Action/Thriller

Rating: PG

Runtime: 108 minutes

Budget: $92,000,000

Box Office Gross: $494,580,615 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

Bill and Jo are on the brink of divorce when they start chasing tornadoes, which are happening across Oklahoma and must launch an advanced weather alert device that will go right into the centre of its deadly swirling vortex. But will they succeed, or will they get sucked by the tornado?

Cast

Helen Hunt - Dr. Jo Harding

Bill Paxton - Bill Harding

Jami Gertz - Dr. Melissa Reeves

Cary Elwes - Dr. Jonas Miller

Phillip Seymour Hoffman - Dustin Davis

Lois Smith - Meg Greene

Alan Nurrick - Robert 'Rabbit'
Nurick

Sean Whalen - Allan Sanders

Scott Thomson - Jason
'Preacher' Rowe

Todd Field - Tim 'Beltzer' Lewis

Joey Slotnick - Joey

Wendle Josphener - Haynes

Jeremy Davies - Laurence

Zach Greiner - Eddie

Gregory Sporleder - Willie

Patrick Fischer - The Communicator

Nicholas Sadler - Kubrick

Ben Weber - Stanley

Anthony Rapp - Tony

Eric LaRay Harvey - Eric

Abraham Benrubi - Bubba

Jake Busey - Mobile Lab Technician

Melanie Hoopes - Patty

J. Dean Lindsay - Dean

Dan Kelpine - Diner Mechanic

Sharonlyn Morrow - Waitress

Alexa Vega - Jo - 5 Years Old
Richard Lineback - Mr. Thornton
Rusty Schwimmer - Mrs. Thornton

Taylor Gilbert - NSSL Scientist - Bryce

Bruce Wright - NSSL Scientist - Murphy

Gary England - TV Meteorologist #1

Jeff Lazalier - TV Meteorologist #2

Rick Mitchell - TV Meteorologist #3

John Thomas Rhyne - Paramedic

Paul Douglas - Badger

Samantha McDonald - Drive-In Girl

Jennifer L. Hamilton - Drive-In Girl

Anneke De Bont - Farm Girl

Crew

Additional Cinematography

(Uncredited)/Director - Jan de Bont

Writer/Producer - Michael Crichton

Writer - Anne Marie Martin

Executive Producers - Steven Spielberg,

Walter Parkes, Laurie MacDonald and

Gerald R. Molen

Producers - Kathleen Kennedy and Ian Bryce

Casting Director - Risa Bramon Garcia

Casting Associates - Randi Hiller and Ria Pavia

Technical Consultants - Harold Brooks,

Kevin Kelleher, Dane Konop and Martin Cohen

Production Designer - Joseph C. Nemec III

Supervising Art Director - Dan Olexiewicz

Set Decorator - Ronald R. Reiss

Costume Designer - Ellen Mirojnick

Director of Photography - Jack N. Green

Camera Operators - Stephen S. Campanelli,

Randy Feemster and Paul Varrieur

First Assistant Director: Second Unit -

K.C. Hodenfield

Second Second Assistant Director -

John M. Morse

Second Unit Director/Director of Photography -

Alexander Witt

Stunt Coordinator - Mic Rodgers

Transportation Coordinator - Randy Peters

Special Effects Supervisor - John Fraizer

Visual Effects Supervisor - Stefan Fangmeier
Visual Effects Art Director: ILM - Guy Hendrix Dyas

Digital Tornado Designers: ILM - Habib Zargarpour

and Henry LaBounta

Lightning/Debris Effects Supervisor: ILM -

Sandra Ford Karpman

Creative Advisor: ILM - Dennis Muren
Computer Graphics Supervisors: ILM -

Roger Guyett and Tom L. Hutchinson

Computer Graphics Designer/Supervisor:

BFTRE - Van Ling

Film Editor - Michael Kahn

Supervising Sound Editor - Stephen Hunter Flick

Special Sound Designers - Ken J. Johnson,

Martin Lopez, John Pospisil and Eric Potter

Sound Effects Editors - Teresa Eckton,

Warren Hamilton Jr., Greg Hedgepath,

Richard King, Charles Ewing Smith and

Martin Walowitz

Re-Recording Mixers - Gregg Landaker,

Steve Maslow and Kevin O'Connell

Foley Artists - Hilda Hodges and John Roesch

Music - Mark Mancina

Music Supervisors - Budd Carr and Joel Sill

Score Recordist - Shawn Murphy

Score Mixer - Steve Kempster

Awards

1997 Academy Awards

Best Sound - Steve Maslow, Gregg Landaker,

Kevin O'Connell and Geoffrey Patterson (Nominated)

Best Visual Effects - Stefen Fangmeier, John Fraizer,

Habib Zargarpour and Henry LaBounta (Nominated)

Review

Since the early 1980s, disaster films have gotten slow to become popular with fans. A few unsuccessful disaster movies (save for the comical spoof Airplane known internationally as Flying High) have led to disappointing box office takings. Even before their release, these films had low expectations. Due to poor scriptwriting, stale acting and low-quality visuals. The subgenre experienced its resurgence in 1996 with two movies that would soon revitalise the trend, such as TWISTER and Independence Day, which got lauded for innovative special effects. Reviewers complained about the plotting and character development. It could not stop the moviegoers from seeing the modern classics in theatres, and both films went on to make big money.

After director Jan De Bont became highly successful for his hit blockbuster Speed, he partnered with author Michael Crichton of Jurassic Park fame and Hollywood legend Steven Spielberg. Together, they co-develop TWISTER as his next film. Some people might say the feature was written by chimpanzees, considering there would be flaws. The minor faults are tolerable due to all the movie's other strengths, which outnumber the weaknesses. Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt portrayed the storm chaser couple who would soon be divorced. The late Phillip Seymour Hoffman had a terrific supporting role and amused audiences with his upbeat energy and cheeky humour.

It's been years since I watched this film, and I don't mind TWISTER and enjoy re-watching it. TWISTER is by no means a landmark film. It is certainly not a disappointment that some negative reviewers claim.

Star rating: (7/10) Good Movie

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