Movie Review: Dragonfly (2002)

Genre: Drama  

Director: Tom Shadyac  

Starring: Kevin Costner, Kathy Bates, Linda Hunt, Susanna Thompson  

Running Time: 104 minutes  

Synopsis: Chicago-area surgeon Dr. Joe Darrow (Kevin Costner) is still grieving the death of his wife Emily (Susanna Thompson). She was a doctor dedicated to field service, and died while pregnant in a South American conflict zone. Emily had a dragonfly birthmark, and Joe starts experiencing supernatural episodes involving dragonflies. He visits the hospital's oncology ward, where two children report encounters with Emily during near-death experiences. Joe's colleague Dr. Dickinson (Ron Rifkin) and neighbour Miriam (Kathy Bates) worry about his mental health as he becomes increasingly certain Emily is sending him an important message.

What Works Well: The sense of mystery wrapped in fantasy, grief, and secrets of the afterlife is compelling. Joe's journey from non-believer in heaven to a forced reckoning with spirituality is careful and deliberate, propelled by deep love and sudden loss. Director Tom Shadyac creates a path filled with quiet and small but telling supernatural moments, none of them obvious but all of them contributing to a mounting sense of intrigue. 

What Does Not Work As Well: The mood is overwhelming morose, and Kevin Costner wallows in Joe's caustic bereavement. The supporting cast is talented but given relatively little to do, to the extent that Joe's pet parrot emerges as the most memorable co-star. The final act changes gears and locations abruptly, swapping subtlety for adventure and abandoning the earned surroundings of Joe's life in favour of a whole different environment.  

Key Quote:

Miriam (to Joe): Take down the vacancy that says "Emily's ghost is welcome here". You got to do the hard stuff. Got to clean out closets and get on with your life without her.



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