google.com, pub-4909507274277725, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 Slapinions: Knowing

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Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Knowing

I liked this movie. A lot.

Fifty years ago a time capsule is buried at an elementary school, and included in its contents are the frenzied scribbles of the class oddball.

When the capsule is opened in the present day, Professor John Koestler's (Cage) son is given the note and sneaks it home. The seemingly random numbers on the page are anything but; they are the date and longitude/latitude of every large scale disaster of the last half century.

There is one set of numbers left, and the date is fast approaching.

* * *

It doesn't take long to figure out that the final predicted event is going to be a doozy, but the script does a fine job of pacing events so as to keep each revelation a surprise. There were a few plot points that were 180 degrees from what I expected, and the film is genuinely creepy at times. I caught myself shaking off a shiver now and again.

Is the complexity of the riddle a ridiculous means of passing on the information? Of course. A simple "hey, looks what's gonna happen!" would have been much smarter - but then we wouldn't have a movie :)

Again, a good film, and worth the rental.

3.2 out of 4

2 comments:

gryphondear said...

Nicholas Cage is usually worth watching no matter what the venue. His ability to go from normal conversation to full-out shrieking hysteria in a split second has always tickled my funny bone.

That said, I'd only give Knowing 2* out of 5. Way too much build up for the syrupy ending.

Oh, well, it was way better than The Village.

;^) Jan the Gryphon
http://gryph-wotd.blogspot.com/

Bridgett said...

Haven't seen it...but it sounds pretty good.