Stars: Val Kilmer, Mira Sorvino, Kelly McGillis, Steven Weber, Bruce Davison, Nathan Lane, Ken Howard, Drena De Niro, Laura Kirk

Director: Irwin Winkler

Summary: Based on a true story, this film tells the story of Amy, who seeks refuge from her daily stresses in a health spa where she falls madly in love with blind masseur Virgil. With an operation planned to restore his sight, Virgil and Amy discover change in their relationship...

Amy (Sorvino) is a fast-paced Manhattan architect who falls for the the masseur at a resort where she is trying to relax. Virgil has been blind since the age of three, and is cared for by his loving sister. Amy takes Virgil to New York, to his sister's objections, in order for him to receive a radical new treatment which will restore his sight. Though the surgery is successful, Virgil's added sense creates a whole new set of problems for him, straining his relationship with Amy. When disease once again threatens his vision, important decisions must be made, which will affect Virgil and Amy forever.

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The tagline states, "Only love can bring you to your senses." Well, your senses have to be pretty dulled to love At First Sight. On paper the story--based on the writings of medical writer extraordinaire Oliver Sacks (Awakenings)--is intriguing: a blind man regains sight after surgery yet can never connect with what he sees, including a lovely new girlfriend. Indeed, maybe blind was better. From such interesting stuff (and a talented cast) comes a tepid love story and an unconvincing drama.

Val Kilmer plays Virgil, a serene resort worker who plays hockey in the dark and is the best masseur this side of the Catskills. Onto his table comes Amy, a bone-weary NYC architect (Mira Sorvino) who cries the first time Virgil does his magic. Instead of a voyage into the world of blindness, Amy's first instinct is to take Virgil to an eye doctor who can restore sight (Bruce Davison). Virgil receives sight, crumbling the trust between him and Amy. The clichés start building up and by the time Amy is wooed by her ex-husband (Steven Weber), her boss no less, one's patience wears thin.

The medical curiosities of the story--Virgil can see an item but can't grasp what it is until he touches it--do not translate well on screen. The film's liveliest character is Nathan Lane as a teacher of the blind. A scene with Virgil that gets to the heart of his ailment is so filled with spontaneity, one wonders if it was scripted or simply Lane's own extemporaneous dialogue. After an admirable start as a director (Guilty by Suspicion), Oscar-winning producer Irwin Winkler has not been able to put cinematic highs or believable angst into his films (The Net, Night in the City). At First Sightmay look good but it is blind where it counts. --Doug Thomas

Aspect Ratio:	2.35 Wide Screen, 16:9 Wide Screen
Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	Chapter Search, Scene Access, Original Theatrical Trailer
Subtitles:	Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish
Year:	1999
Release Date:	February 1, 2000
Runtime:	124 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	15744 D V D
Keywords:	First, General, Wide, Screen, Sight, Romantic, Drama
Genre:	Drama