Do Not Disturb (1999)

Touches You

Good concept, poorly executed.

Fantastic!

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Do Not Disturb, a cheaply drawn Euro-trash oddity, ironically does exactly what it's title forbids by indeed disturbing the audience with very questionable scenes that paint Amsterdam in a way that I'm sure would infuriate locals. Also called 'Silent Witness' on DVD, it's a wonder why such a weird, awful script would attract high pedigree actors like William Hurt, Jennifer Tilly and Denis Leary. Hurt and Tilly play a wealthy American couple on a business trip to Amsterdam with their little daughter (Francesca Brown), who happens to be a mute, wearing a magic marker around her neck as sole means of communication. After getting separated from her parents at the hotel, she inadvertently witnesses a murder by two nasty hitmen (Corey Johnson and some other random) and flees off into the night pursued by them, and subjected to all kinds of whacked out freaks. Seriously, this poor girl in terms of both the character and the actress, is put through an unnecessary wringer of ultra violence and sleaze. There's this thread of implied child abuse running through the narrative, as if such proclivities are inherent in Dutch people in that city, and it's really troubling to see a girl her age have to be ogled by perverts at every turn, an ill advised and shameful addition from some no name scriptwriter who probably never worked again. Then there's Denis Leary, who should have sued the marketing team for misrepresentation. On the US DVD cover, he leers off the poster with an evil gaze, holding a gun and giving every impression that he's the film's villain. In the actual film, he an innocuous American homeless man who helps the poor girl navigate the dangerous streets throughout, the only sane individual she meets, really. It's an alright role for the guy, but that stupid box art really sells his presence askew. It's just a bizarre, uneven disaster for the most part, and I still wonder to this day why any of these fine actors participated. William Hurt especially is such a choosy performer, usually handpicking excellent scripts and being careful with his career, but here he jumps right into the abysmal script with some pseudo Southern accent that is way, way beneath him. Should not be used as a tourism video for Amsterdam, but rather forgotten permanently from the DTV landscape.

So bad i could not stop watching it. The mother and father of the mute were the worst parents in the world. The police in amsterdam don't seem to care if a child is missing nor do the parents seem to think its important to tell police or hotel security that she is a mute and is 10 years old. The Assassin is the worst shot in the world, his gun misfires all the time. 10 year old kid beats the hell out of this Assassin several times. Mute girl is a genius is finding creative hiding spots and weapons. Unbelievable that he can't hit her with 1 bullet.Dennis Leary is so miscasted as an amsterdam drug addict homeless bum who somehow has a boat and drives on the canals saving people like james bond, except with a brooklyn accent who is a master at identifying mutes and isn't bothered when bullets rain down on his boat setting it on fire. Understands the entire plot without her speaking a word and giving his only possession, his winter coat to the girl. William Hurt is a braindead father and it is unbelievalbe he found his way to another country. Complete moron in this movie which makes it enjoyable to watch. His wife must be taking some of the drugs that are for free in amsterdam. And are very calm that daughter is mute and missing. Michael Chiklis bad guy who wants to kill people horrible acting "Hey do you like the boat, yea, its great" "Whats it worth"

Only reason I started to watch was due to the Hotel De l'Europe being included in the film. Unfortunately they didn't manage to capture anything about the beauty and uniqueness of this historical place. The characters seemed without real substance, impossible to understand the inclusion of the porn shops, death of a heavy metal type, picking on homeless people, etc. Film was trying at times to be a comedy and then dealing with serious issues. It did not manage to reveal the feeling of Amsterdam and I am curious why it was made in the first place. William Hurt's southern accent was somewhat interesting, although the minimal concern about his daughter's disappearance was bizarre. Amsterdam detectives are displayed as complete idiots. Yes, this film is quite a dud.

Dick Maas, a Dutch director, needs to get a sightseeing tour of Amsterdam so he can learn where things are located in that city. What he has done in this film is a pastiche of clichés from other, better movies, and the result is not at all satisfactory, since much of what we see doesn't make any sense.The movie suffers from a casting disorder. Whoever decided to hire these actors to do the picture must be banned from hiring performers for anything else. Not only is this an insult to the competent Dutch film actors, in general, but the people we see on the screen are just so inane that it's a marvel this thing found a release at all.First of all, Michael Chicklis, as Rudolph Hartman, a Dutch businessman? That's a stretch of the imagination. Mr. Chiklis, an otherwise personable actor in his television series, is absolutely wrong. William Hurt is also out of character most of the time. Mr. Hurt, also an excellent actor during his New York theatre years, is not convincing at all! How about Jennifer Tilly? Whatever did this Cathryn see in Walter? Is little Melissa adopted?Amsterdam, a fabulous city, is the loser in this movie because the director's lack of eye for detail. Only to be seen at the viewer's own risk!