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Rating: 3 stars

All movies seen on 12/05/2010

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Knowing (2009)

Directed by Alex Proyas

Supernatural | Mystery

Most recently watched by sleestakk

Overview

A teacher opens a time capsule that has been dug up at his son’s elementary school; in it are some chilling predictions—some that have already occurred and others that are about to—that lead him to believe his family plays a role in the events that are about to unfold.

Rated PG-13 | Length 121 minutes

Actors

Nicolas Cage | Rose Byrne | Chandler Canterbury | Ben Mendelsohn | Nadia Townsend | Terry Camilleri | Lara Robinson | Adrienne Pickering | Danielle Carter | Alethea McGrath | David Lennie | D.G. Maloney | Alan Hopgood | Joshua Long | Tamara Donnellan | Travis Waite | Liam Hemsworth | Harli Ames | Alyssa McClelland | Gareth Yuen | Lesley Anne Mitchell | Raymond Thomas | Angie Diaz | Kate Mylius

Viewing History (seen 1 time)

Viewing Notes

Knowing is a frustrating movie to watch.  Somewhere in this movie is an interesting idea, and some interesting philosophical discussion can be had because of some of the movie’s themes.  However, the impact of the movie is marred by the out of place casting of Nicolas Cage and a batshit crazy, yet brave ending.

Alex Proyas hasn’t been able to duplicate the success (critically) of Dark City.  Sure, it didn’t make much money when it was released, but Dark City has become somewhat of a critical darling. He also directed The Crow, which shows that there’s a good director in there somewhere. Unfortunately, since Dark City, Alex Proyas has given us Garage Days and I, Robot.

So, I was really pulling for Proyas here.  Unfortunately, only half of Knowing is fully interesting and creative.  The rest is a plodding bore as Nicolas Cage tried to figure things out.  Knowing’s saving grace is the insane and brave ending, though I do have some issues with some of the design choices made.

Knowing exists as somewhat of an oddity for me.  I watch it thinking of what could have been if Nicolas Cage wasn’t involved or if the script had a couple more polishes before filming.  Either way, we’ll never know and we’re left with this. It’s still entertaining, just not the way Proyas or Cage would want it to be.

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