THE F*CKING BLACK SHEEP: Sphere (1998)

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

THE BLACK SHEEP is an ongoing column featuring different takes on films that either the writer HATED, but that the majority of film fans LOVED, or that the writer LOVED, but that most others LOATH. We’re hoping this column will promote constructive and geek fueled discussion. Dig in!

Sphere (1998)
Directed by Barry Levinson

“It’s a thinking man’s sci-fi horror with Rain Man, a murderous slut, and Nick Fury all directed by the man who brought Toys to the big screen.”

Sci-fi, at least in terms of big budget projects, have been very few of late. Sure, a few pop up here and there, but big budget, big star wattage vehicles seem to be a thing of the past. Unless of course it’s an existing franchise, or a remake of a known commodity, or the studio can sell a hell of a lot of toys. In the case of Sphere, the only thing it had going for it at the time were stars as it has a who’s who 90’s roster. Dustin Hoffman, Sharon Stone, Sam Jackson, Queen Latifah, and young Liev Schreiber. Ok, maybe that’s not the strongest selling point to the average fanboy, but at the time author Michael Crichton was the hottest thing on the planet and everything he wrote seemed like gold. Dude wrote Jurassic Park!

However, when it was released the movie did nothing, sinking at the box office like a corpse wrapped in chains with cinder blocks. So what gives? What did audiences reject it? Was it Sam Jackson overkill by then? Were people sick of Stone? Maybe it was a bit of all three, but then again one could say water based movies are cursed. I could be wrong, but I can’t think of any aqua movies (beyond Jaws) that were big hits, or fully accepted by the audience.

Regardless, Crichton and Levinson thought they could crack it with a tale of elite scientists who embark on an underwater mission, where a mysterious ship had been located. For some reason, the scientists (and no experienced divers) board the ship and find not only is it a human ship, but it contains a giant golden sphere. From here, things get weird. Giant squid. Killer jelly fish. Egg droppings. People start seeing things, and people get dead. Now that sounds probably like a lot of movies, but in reality it really isn’t. More than anything, Sphere is about possibilities. I like it when a movie doesn’t answer everything for you, that it allows room for interpretation and theory. Sure, this flick isn’t 2001 or Lost so people aren’t going to speculate for decades or anything, but there’s enough mystery and intrigue to keep the movie rolling. The sphere and its capabilities invoke a certain feeling of wonder. The kind like when you wondered what boobs felt like as a kid.

Of course, any movie starring Dustin Hoffman circa late 1990’s isn’t going to be action packed. Thank God. No one needs to see that. I’m glad he wasn’t forced to learn kung fu or anything. In place of action Sphere attempts to create horrific and tense sequences that have moments of action, if that makes any sense. Think of it this way…you can’t watch this and expect Total Recall. Moments slowly develop, and if you stick with, it’ll be worth your time. It’s a thinking man’s sci-fi horror with Rain Man, a murderous slut, and Nick Fury all directed by the man who brought Toys to the big screen. Now how can’t you dig that? Disagree? Get the DVD and discover for yourself.

GET SPHERE DVD HERE

GET SPHERE BLU RAY HERE