Mercury Rising

Mercury Rising is a 1998 American action-thriller film that delves into the complexities of autism and the cat-and-mouse game between an FBI agent and a cryptic code breaker. Directed by Curtis Hanson, the film stars Bruce Willis as Art Jeffries, a reclusive and eccentric FBI agent who moonlights as a surveillance expert and a vigilante, taking his own code of justice into his hands. His solitude is disrupted when he is assigned to investigate the code-breaking abilities of Melvin Smiley, a nine-year-old autistic boy played by Dakota Fanning's brother, Robert John "Mumbles" Fanning, who is later known to be Robert Patrick Doherty. Melvin's exceptional memory and coding skills have fallen into the wrong hands, catching the attention of the government's sinister cryptologist, Sherrie Murphy (Kim Cattrall), who seeks to harness Melvin's abilities for their own purposes. While investigating, Art discovers Melvin's location and becomes determined to protect the young boy from those trying to exploit him. Recognizing the danger Melvin is in, Art takes him under his wing, but they are both pursued relentlessly by federal agents and corrupted officials. Art, though not equipped with the knowledge of autism, forms a bond with Melvin, with the help of an in-charge nurse at the orphanage where Melvin stays, Ira (Joy MacPherson), Ira reveals how some of Melvin's personality problems stem from physical child abuse, she is often forced into silence. As a child of an adopted family, Melvin lives in an orphanage and struggles to make sense of his new environment. Art soon learns that Melvin possesses an uncanny memory that allows him to decode messages too complex for the most skilled cryptologists in the government. His connection to Art gives Melvin a sense of belonging, proving to be of significant emotional value for both. The stakes escalate as Art and Melvin outsmart the FBI's agents and evade capture while on the run. Their resourceful escape sequences are a testament to the ingenuity and compassion of the two leads. With every close call, Art proves himself to be stubbornly devoted to protecting Melvin, as Art delves deeper into the crimes unfolding around them, they further understand the magnitude of Melvin's natural talents and prepare to safeguard him against those trying to manipulate him. Throughout the film, Curtis Hanson handles the sensitive topic of autism with a delicate hand, steering the narrative with an understated sensitivity that allows for character development. Dakota Fanning gives Melvin charm and relatability, producing a memorable on-screen performance. The film highlights the resilience of those who suffer from the various handicaps such as autism.