Academy Award® Winner Nicolas Cage (National Treasure: Book of Secrets, Leaving Las Vegas) stars in
Knowing, a gripping action-thriller of global proportions about a professor who stumbles on terrifying predictions
about the future—and sets out to prevent them from coming true. His increasingly desperate efforts take him on a
heart-pounding race against time until he finds himself facing the ultimate disaster—and the ultimate sacrifice...
(from MovieWeb.com)
When a movie plot is given a science fiction twist when you're not prepared for one, it can make or break the film depending on your recpetion of it. For example, when it was revealed that "interdimensional beings" were presented as the focal point for Indiana Jones' latest findings in last year's The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull, it was a pretty tough pill to swallow. Nicolas Cage's latest thriller, Knowing, takes an intriguing look at the idea of predestination and coincidence through a sci-fi lens. And while that is likely to give it a limited appeal, it's executed well through strong storytelling and acting by Cage and his co-stars.
It's difficult to talk about Knowing without giving away key plot points and developments. So consider this
review to not have any major spoilers, but there may be a few little ones throughout. Knowing opens fifty years
ago when a classroom of students are given the assignment to draw a picture of what they think the future will look like
for the purpose of burying it in a time capsule for students to find half a century later. A student, named
Lucinda, who also birthed the idea for this assignment, was a quiet, somewhat disturbed little girl who proceeds to cover an entire sheet of paper with what seems like random,
nonsensical numbers. Fifty years later, the present day students of that same school are in attendance when the time capsule is dug up
and its contents are distributed to the them. Nicolas Cage plays John Koestler, an MIT professor of astrophysics
who is a widower raising his son by himself in Lexington, Massachusetts. It just so happens that his son Caleb is handed this
paper of numbers, and it soon finds its way into John's hands, piquing his curiosity. It's not long before John's world
is turned completely upside down when he discovers that the numbers predict every major disaster (and its death toll) since the year
the paper was placed in the capsule.
Knowing is a layered thriller that is mindful of the details and its concept from start to finish. Cage brings a lot to Koestler - a single father who lost his wife tragically a year or so before the events of the movie, causing him to believe that life just happens and there's no purpose in it. We discover that John's father is a pastor and his family are believers, but he has chosen not to talk to his father anymore. And it's during this conflict and period of self-pity (it's also apparent that he has developed a drinking problem since the loss of his wife), that this paper lands in his hands and stirs up his way of thinking. Cage can tend to play similar characters from film to film, but as Koestler, he subdues his usual traits and characteristics to play much more of a believable, common man instead of some kind of hero or action star.
The film doesn't compromise the characters or story for thrills either. The only action really takes place during a
few disaster sequences and the special effects during these moments are pretty startling. Violence is ultimately the main
concern for viewers, but most of it isn't graphic or gratuitous. However, the way Alex Proyas directs these disaster sequences
is certainly jarring. In the first disaster sequence, we even see some victims running around on fire, but it's shown from
a far enough distance that it isn't very graphic, but is likely to be disturbing. The same can be said for a following
sequence that is drawn out longer than the viewer might expect, as we see a fair amount of destruction in the process.
There's a hint of a "horror" feel to some of the scenes involving the mystery surrounding the random numbers and what
they mean. Lucinda, in the film's opening sequence, is a bit disturbed and Proyas builds the suspense up with it.
There's a moment when Lucinda goes missing and is found in a closet at the high school scratching at the door and we
see her bloody fingertips briefly. Aside from that, there are some creepy moments involving mysterious characters who
show up throughout the film, which brings more tension and even chills to the movie. There is some language (although
nothing noticeably "strong" as its rating suggests - which usually implies the use of the "f" word), but Proyas keeps it down to a pretty small
amount with just about 5 "s" words and a few other mild obscenities, as well as a couple uses of "oh my G-d."
Again, it's tough to get into Knowing without giving away the meat of the movie, but director Alex Proyas and the acting team assembled for this film make an impactful sci-fi thriller that ventures deeper than the surface level. It's refreshing to see a film that involves Christian believers and for them not to be shown in a very negative light. It's revealed in a great exchange between John and his sister Grace that she is a Christian and she simply asks him what's going on in his life so that she can pray for him. It's a sweet and genuine moment that feels much more like a realistic depiction of a good Christian family than what Hollywood normally depicts Christians to be. There are also little elements sprinkled throughout the film, with a conclusion that makes for an interesting follow-up discussion afterwards. But there's good chance viewers will be left with plenty of questions when the film concludes, too.
In conclusion, Knowing is an intense thriller with solid acting and a theme that will leave much to talk about. Knowing is not a film for everyone, with a great deal of violence and disturbing content brought about through the disaster sequences, but the Christian themes (including forgiveness and resolution) give the movie a redeeming quality. So if you can forgive a science fiction packaging that presents an implausible yet entertaining plot, Knowing is well worth a look.
- John DiBiase, (reviewed: 4/12/09)
Disclaimer: All reviews are based solely on the opinions of the reviewer. Most reviews are rated on how the reviewer enjoyed the film overall, not exclusively on content. However, if the content really affects the reviewer's opinion and experience of the film, it will definitely affect the reviewer's overall rating.
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