Knowing? I'll Try Forgetting!
Written: Oct 16 '09
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Decent premise with some early intrigue
Cons: Terrible and nonsensical ending
The Bottom Line: Knowing starts off as an intriguing thriller, but eventually evolves into a preposterous sci-fi joke.
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| chad8246's Full Review: Knowing |
In most cases, science fiction films pose any interesting dilemma for the filmmaker. It's always a fine line that must be carefully balanced between reality and fantasy. If you step too far into the fantasy realm, the film can turn out amateurish and silly. But, fall too much into the reality realm and you'll lose some of the magic and imagination that makes such films fun and entertaining. However, when that balanced is reached, movie magic can be made.
Knowing is the 2009 sci-fi thriller starting Nicolas Cage and it attempts to reach the precarious balance between fantasy and reality. Sometimes it succeeds, yet other times it falls drastically short. And, yet, even other times it results in a "what the @#&@?" reaction from the viewer.
Knowing follows the quest of John Koestler (Cage) as he looks to find the answers to a 50 year old mystery. When a time capsule is opened at his son Caleb's (Chandler Canterbury) school, he's given a letter from a mysterious student named Lucinda that attended the school 50 years ago. Upon examination it's a list of hundreds and hundreds of numbers in nonsensical order. Or, so Professor Koestler thought.
Nearly by accident Prof. Koestler discovers that the numbers represent major disasters over the last fifty years. As an example the numbers would show "0911014072" which indicated the September 11th attacks. Of course, there are four other digits that must have some significance, right? Well, of course they do. And, again by accident, Prof. Koestler, realizes that the final four digits represent the coordinates (longitude/latitude) of the disaster. He miraculously deduces this when an airplane crashes at his precise location all at the same time he's looking at the GPS coordinates in his car.
Quickly he determines that the world is going to end in just a couple of days. He devises a plan to help protect his family along with Lucinda's daughter Diana (Rose Byrne) and granddaughter Abby (Lara Robinson) who he's made contact with to help solve the "numbers." Simultaneously, they are being stalked by a mysterious group of men that leave smooth black rocks as their calling card. Prof. Koestler soon realizes that yes, the world is going to end, but that he is not meant to be saved. But, his son Caleb is to be protected which he is, but in a tremendously ridiculous way that totally ruins the film.
Knowing starts off with some genuine intrigue and plenty of suspense. It is actually able to keep most of that tension through the first two-thirds of the film. But then, once it looses its grip on reality, the film completely falls apart. What once was a fun thriller with some deliciously creepy qualities, quickly evolves into a joke of a science fiction film that must have had some rewrites by the Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull folks. The result is the "what the @#&@" reaction I mentioned previously. It's a shame because with a solid ending it could have been an entertaining and satisfying sci-fi film.
Honestly, the ending of Knowing isn't the only problem with the film. The acting is sub par at best. Nicolas Cage is serviceable as the patriarchal John Koestler. The only problem is that he is making a habit of playing the distraught father/husband/son that is just trying to make good. You've seen his same work in the National Treasure films, The Weather Man and The Wicker Man all with varying results. Here he's about the same...again. Rose Byrne picks up right where she left off from her role in the television show Damages. Which is to say, she's barely average. Her acting in Knowing is stilted and forced and quite bad. The two child actors, Lara Robinson and Chandler Canterbury, almost seem to understand the absurdity of the movie and sleepwalk through it.
The DVD for Knowing does offer a few interesting additions, but nothing that would make it more of a "must purchase." There's a rather bland directors commentary from Alex Proyas. The most interesting thing is that he amazingly doesn't seem to realize how preposterously his film ends. There are a few television spots and trailers included, but there's no reason to waste your time with those. However, there are two rather interesting featurette's on the release. There's "Visions Of The Apocalypse" that focuses on historians and theologians discussing their thoughts about the film. They choose to focus on the apocalyptic aspect of the picture rather than the film resolution which is a benefit to the feature. The second featurette is rather entertaining. "The Making Of A Futuristic Thriller" includes short discussions about the film with the actors, but also includes a remarkable in-depth look into the filming of the pivotal plane crash scene which is actually one of the more impressive aspects of the film.
It's much easier to look past films that never begin to offer much in the way of entertainment. Unfortunately, that's what makes Knowing so perplexing. It starts off so mysteriously and intriguing. And, even more remarkably, it's able to continue with the suspense even into the third act. But, when it falls apart, it falls apart hard. And, that's what upsets me so much. What could have been an immensely entertaining film turns into a joke of a picture as you're almost ashamed that you allowed yourself to be drawn into the film. Sadly, I can't recommend Knowing. I wish I could, but the ending left such a bad taste in my mouth that I suggest you avoid wasting your time.
Recommended:
No
Worst Part of this Film: Ending
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chad8246
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