Solid acting can't save 'Abandon'

The last time I checked, dramatic thrillers were supposed to thrill, or at least keep you interested long enough to make it to the end. Which makes me wonder: have times changed or did someone put "Abandon" in the wrong category? The latter possibility wouldn't surprise me, since "Abandon" was neither funny, dramatic nor suspenseful.\nThe plot was an unfocused mess, but the little bits I gathered told the story of Catherine Burke (Katie Holmes), a typical college senior, stressed out with the completion of her thesis, a competitive job interview and exams. Where she differs from the norm is through the fact that she has a missing boyfriend of two years, Embry, who delights in haunting her and an investigating officer who delights in hitting on college women. \nPut this way, the story doesn't sound too complicated, but Stephen Gaghan somehow manages to make it into a complex mess, with momentary flashbacks and pointless events infused randomly and in no logical order. It may have been Gaghan's attempt at suspense, but it only served to clog the film down and make it feel much longer than it truly was -- it certainly didn't point to any answers which, when they did come, proved to be equally vague and unsatisfying, or, put in simpler terms, just plain dumb. \nThe performances were, however, amazing. It was remarkable to see Katie Holmes transformed so completely from the troubled teenager of "Dawson's Creek" to the stressed-out college senior, complete with dark circles and drawn expression. Zooey Deschanel played Catherine's friend to perfection, providing the little comic relief to be found, and Benjamin Bratt did an admirable job as the "kind-eyed" police officer assigned to investigate Embry's disappearing act. \nBut even stellar acting can't save this film from the chaotic mess Gaghan turned it into; it lacked emotion and a point, and it was ultimately a huge waste of time. So unless you have a Friday to absolutely kill and $7 to blow, I'd abandon any thoughts about seeing this film. Even then, you'd probably come out begging to have the last 90 minutes of your life back.