| Review:
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This is a sleeper sci fi film. Granted, I usually like
any movie Nicholas Cage is in with a few exceptions. However,
this film has a good script, decently acted, and a twist
at the end to provide a nice, satisfying closure for my
96 minutes spent watching it. The Science Fiction component
of the film is… a guy can see into the future, okay it is
only two minutes but it is the future. Time paradox is one
of the oldest scenarios in this type of movie. Here it does
not bog the movie down with endless permutations of what
if. Instead, the paradox provides us with one of the more
visually interesting takes I have seen in a movie of this
ilk. Very cool and imaginative. You have to see it, because
I don't want to give it away. It is not a special effect
though that was used to create it…see what I mean, how can
you tell about it without giving away the effect. ***
I have only one negative perception and it occurs in
many movies not just this one. The special effect of having
large falling objects hurtle towards the principle character(s)
is created in CGI. However, invariably the artists discount
the actual physics involved like mass, and weight, inertia,
etc. The objects then seem to move too fast and hurtle in
a kind of floating movement instead of an enormous weight
crashing against the ground kind of movement. Maybe it is
just me… ***
In any event, the principles are believable and convincing
throughout the move. I like a movie that satisfies me at
the end and this one did. Rent or buy it for a pleasant
viewing experience. ***
A brief synopsis of the film Las Vegas showroom magician
Cris Johnson has a secret: he can see two minutes into the
future. Sick of the government and scientific interest in
his gift, he lies low in Vegas, performing cheap tricks
and living off small-time gambling "winnings." But when
a terrorist group threatens to detonate a nuclear device
in Los Angeles, government agent Callie Ferris, played by
Julienne Moore, must use all her wiles to capture Cris and
convince him to help her stop the cataclysm. ---
Image & Sound:
The Director of Photography and the Director must have
decided to give the movie an overall overexposed yellowish
cast which keeps the movie dry and hot. Normally I don't
like tricking the visuals in any way unless motivated by
the screen action or time period. However, the effect works
here, or at least doesn't distract from the action and becomes
subtle.
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| Special
Features: |
"Making the Best NEXT Thing." Is in reality not a feature
on making the film technically as much as the stars, writer,
and producers discussing their motivations on making the
film or their characters in the film. *** "The NEXT 'Grand
Idea'" is a feature on why the film was shot in the Grand
Canyon and how the plot was advanced using this visual aspect
of the film. *** "Visualizing the NEXT Move" The CGI artisans
discuss their craft. This is an interesting feature where
you find out that once sequence had about 200 possible variations
for the director to consider. A "show me what I'll like,
and I'll know it when I see it" kind of response. *** "Two
Minutes in the Future with Jessica Biel" Jessica gets into
her part and reflects personally on her life regarding the
reality presented by the film and how it could effect her
if it was a true part of her reality. Good for Jessica Biel
fans. ***
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