Miscast, misbegotten film-version of Trevor Meldal-Johnsen's novel "Always", produced by Golan-Globus for Cannon Films as if it were a rank television production. British novelist in the present day is initially fascinated by--and then quickly obsessed with--a deceased prima ballerina from the 1930s who bore a striking resemblance to his current fiancée. A Russian hypnotist (named Olga Nabokova!) takes the man back fifty years, where he discovers he himself was the dancer's lover. One wonders to whom this movie was supposed to appeal; even harlequin romance buffs might expect a little sex and intrigue. This poorly staged, ineptly judged reincarnation-mystery is unusually tame for an R-rated feature (stars Nigel Terry and Jaclyn Smith share numerous scenes in bed--with barely a flash of skin between them). Terry, a thin actor with a huge crop of hair and protruding teeth, continually points his nostrils at the camera, twitching like a drug addict going through withdrawals. He gets the majority of screen-time here, although that may not be such a bad thing as Shelley Winters' heavily-accented psychic is a laughable concoction and former TV Angel Smith is curiously wooden. Pino Donaggio composed a lovely score, and there's a decent plot-twist near the end which shows a tiny bit of imagination. Unfortunately, the overly-bright cinematography and deadening pace keep the film from being the enjoyable slice of ham it should have been. All involved settle instead for a lame duck. * from ****
