This psychological thriller from director Jon Turtletaub has some powerful moments and beautiful imagery; but the film lacks focus and becomes much too manipulative to work as a whole.

Anthony Hopkins plays a doctor incarcerated for murder after disappearing in the jungle for two years. Cuba Gooding Jr. plays the energetic up-and-coming psychiatrist trying to reach him. Instinct has moments that echo Gorillas In The Mist, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, and The Shawshank Redemption; however, it never manages to reach the pure emotional power of those films because of the lack of focus.

Hopkins, once again, is an acting force to be reckoned with--doing an excellent job being scary, sympathetic, and hard headed all at once. Gooding Jr. does a decent job here, even though there isn't much to his character and, at times, he can be a little too energetic.
Surprisingly, the film's best moments are the flashbacks depicting Hopkins' bonding with a family of gorillas, forcing him to realize how careless he's been in his civilized life. However, the film's best attributes are Danny Elfman's spectacular score and Stan Winston's makeup effects.

Instinct certainly isn't a bad film and with all its flaws, I still enjoyed it more than the highly-touted Notting Hill. But, chances are, I probably won't remember it by the end of the year.