KNOWING (2009)

directed by Alex Proyas

For some strange reason, it seems that in the last year or so, filmmakers have taken great concepts and just not really known what to do with them. This is the case with KNOWING, something that strives to be a clever film just as it tries (and fails) to have a clever title. There's nothing quite like a ridiculously compelling mystery/suspense scifi thriller to keep you guessing until the last thirty minutes, when you're subsequently forced to watch the thing come apart at just the point when it should be coming together. Ever had a great album with scratches that only appeared on your favorite song? That's what it's like to watch this movie.

Nic Cage can act. But he's not terribly versatile, so he only shines when he's in a role made for him, and he's only done that on a couple of occasions in his terribly long career. The rest of the time, he has a grab-bag of reflexes that he pulls out, or he just talks in a bored sort of manner. It's all well and good until your young costar has to show an emotion. Poor kid...

Basically, the story goes that there's this list of numbers that serves as a guide-map to future catastrophes. There's only numbers on it, no spacing, which in the end serves more as an allusion to the film as a whole than to any real deeper meaning. You have to figure out what the numbers mean like it's a puzzle, then when you do, you have to confront the fact that there's really not much you can do with the information you're given other than stick a bag of popcorn in the microwave and enjoy the show.

In fact, once you get past all the sci-fi hooha that passes for a climax, what you're left with is basically an excuse to see things blow up. Fine by me, I love a good explosion. However, it appears the filmmakers were more interested in a mass audience than a happy one, so even though crazy shit happens and lots of people die, the special effects themselves are just shy of the uncanny valley and appear just cartoonish enough to keep the teenagers in the room. Also, there are no tits. A movie with explosions should have tits. Just sayin'. (I had a teacher fantasy in the first scene... alas, the film jumps in time 50 years and the teacher aged with it. Pity).

What's my point? I don't really need to have one. Once you see the final shot of the film and manage to control your snickering, you'll realize why I leave it at that.

7.23/10