JUST ONE 'FINAL' REQUEST: PLEASE SHUT UP.

Byline: Bob Strauss Film Critic

Talk about surreal: both Tom Cruise's annoying, overproduced mind-bender ``Vanilla Sky,'' and this thing ``Final,'' which plays for all the world like a no-budget knockoff of the big Hollywood vanity project, hit theaters on the same day.

If the effect of all of this wasn't so stunningly tranquilizing, you'd think you were going crazy or something.

``Final'' is basically a one-room acting exercise, gussied up with some mysterio flashbacks and a maybe-it-is/maybe-it-isn't science-fiction subtext. Adam Roth's bluesy guitar licks are the best things in the movie, and that ain't good.

Denis Leary, his hair cut tight and looking unfortunately badger-like because of it, is Bill, a disturbed rock star. He wakes up in a locked hospital room convinced that he's just come to from 400 years of cryogenic hibernation, and that the facility he's in is a donor organ factory.

Bill's imperturbable clinical psychologist Ann (Hope Davis, of ``The Daytrippers'' and recent ``Hearts in Atlantis'' fame) offers loads of evidence that he's just suffering short-term delusions from a recent trauma. Bill remains convinced that he's about to be sliced up, though, and tries to enlist Ann's aid in an escape attempt. She's hard to convince, but after a certain amount of exposure, she can't help but think that Bill, in his loony way, is kind of attractive.

To her credit, Davis plays Ann quite believably, even as the character's behavior starts to undermine the shaky framework of reality and deception that Bruce McIntosh's screenplay clings upon. As he sometimes does with his abrasive comedy, however, Leary wears out his welcome fast as he babbles, rages and twitches around Bill's situation. Relating to a psychopath is a tough order even when they're played by the most accomplished dramatic actors. Being stuck in a room for the better part of two hours with someone at Leary's level can border on excruciating, whether he's really supposed to be crazy or not.

If it wasn't for the narcotizing effect its many repetitive, tedious scenes emit, watching this movie would really hurt.

``Final'' is the solo feature-directing debut from Campbell Scott, who co-helmed the beguiling and astutely judged ``Big Night'' with fellow actor Stanley Tucci. The new film demonstrates no cinematic facility to speak of, and making the picture on video is no excuse for shots that aren't lit or focused properly. The budget here was clearly miniscule, but others with less experience have certainly done more with less.

``FINAL''

(Not Rated: language, drug use, violence)

The stars: Denis Leary, Hope Davis.

Behind the scenes: Directed by Campbell Scott. Written by Bruce McIntosh. Produced by Gary Winick, Alexis Alexanian, Mary Frances Budig, Steve Dunn and Scott. Released by Cowboy Booking International and Lions Gate Films.

Running time: One hour, 51 minutes.

Playing: Fallbrook 10, Pasadena; Playhouse, Pasadena; NuWilshire, Santa Monica.

Our rating: One and one half stars.

CAPTION(S):

photo