Review of Knowing (2009) by Daniel S — 05 Dec 2011

Alex Proyas doesn't make very many films, but whenever he does, it feels to me like a treat. The same can be said for Knowing!

Knowing is an eerie, sometimes creepy, exhilarating mystery, and a true Rorschach test of a movie. I don't want to say too much so as not to spoil the movie for anyone, however I do believe that anyone who believes the film to be "too preachy" is missing the point. The beings aside, whose own existence is quite subjective, and the mystery doomsday code, the central story is of Cage and his son, as he fights to figure out what the right choices are in life for himself and his son. The movie can be at times quite sad and depressing, but science fiction often is bittersweet, as can be death or the future (or Knowing what the future holds).

Also, the movie has some AMAZING disasters in it, including a 3 minute long continuous shot of a plane crash, and a shocking subway crash. Oh I would hate to be out on that platform. Not even the stairs are safe!

The beginning of the film is set in the 50's, so we get a nice little slice of period production, and there are two main children actors in in as well (1 boy 1 girl). The two of them did a good job acting considering they're only children. I suppose they could have been better, but they certainly got the job done and were believable. I mention this because sometimes imo the kids in movies aren't very good actors, like I like Stir of Echoes, but that little boy's acting I found kind of jarring. Same can be said for Phantom Menace, I like Star Wars as much as the next person, and perhaps even slightly more-so, but I thought the little boy Anakin's acting at times was just bad. ANYWAYS I know that sounded unrelated, but to recap; the kids acting in Knowing do a fine job.

Knowing! It's part Dark City, part the Number 23, and part 2012, with some other spices and natural flavors. I give it a 5 out of 5.