Review: Knowing
by Christian TotoNicolas Cage is starring in another one-word title movie? Didn’t we suffer enough with “Next?”
But Cage’s iffy career is in the hands of director Alex Proyas (“Dark City,” “I, Robot”) with “Knowing,” a clear step up from the Oscar winner’s recent stumbles.
The sci-fi thriller, opening wide today, hums along on a trippy premise. Cage plays John Koestler, an MIT professor whose child, Caleb (Chandler Canterbury), takes part in a unique school event – the unearthing of a time capsule buried 50 years ago.
Each student is given one of the letters dropped into the capsule decades ago. Rather than getting some child’s Crayola take on space travel like his fellow students, Caleb receives a sheet of paper with random numbers scrawled over every available inch.
His widower dad, during a semi-drunken state, discovers one of the number sets refers to the 9/11 attacks – the date and how many people died that day – 2,996. And the more John crunches the numbers, the more they align with past catastrophes. But some of the dates listed refer to events yet to occur.
Can John crack the code even though his friends and family think he’s simply cracking up since the death of his wife?
“Knowing” asks plenty of the audience, including the ability to swallow whole plot developments which don’t stand up to even casual scrutiny. But Cage turns in one of his better performances of late, leveraging his hangdog expressions to bring texture to John’s plight.
Proyas is clearly a top-notch director when it comes to establishing mood and menace. The early sequences set in 1959 are darn near brilliant, and he makes some of the more outrageous sequences seem downright plausible thanks to his unimpeachable craft.
The film’s disaster sequences will chill you to the quick.
Wish Proyas gave equally distinct treatment to some of the film’s flimsier subplots, like the rift between John and his pastor pappy. And then you have the ending, something a few too many critics are eager to spoil. Suffice to say it’s big and bold, and your enjoyment of the film hinges heavily on if it hits you in the gut – or causes a nervous fit of giggles when the house lights snap back on.
It’s clear some film critics will reject the ending for its content alone, not the execution. You’ll see what I mean if you buy a ticket.
Cage remains a cinematic enigma. He won a hard-earned Oscar for “Leaving Las Vegas” then made a bee line to generic action fare. He’s back on firmer ground with “Knowing,” even if the science fiction story raises far more questions than it answers.
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40 Comments
Great, I look forward to at. I'm a HUGE fan of "Dark City" and I thought "I,Robot" was one of Will Smith's better movies. Plus, I like Nick Cage. Sound like a winner for me. Thanks Christian — and seriously thanks for not spoiling the ending!!
Great, I look forward to it. I'm a HUGE fan of "Dark City" and I thought "I,Robot" was one of Will Smith's better movies. Plus, I like Nick Cage. Sound like a winner for me. Thanks Christian — and seriously thanks for not spoiling the ending!!
I actually liked "Next" but I have been on more than one occasion been accused of having bad taste in movies now and then. In my defense I thought "Dark City" was downright brilliant, and yet at the same time think the same of "Ishtar" so my friends and family take anything I say about movies with a bucket of salt.
I'd been thinking about seeing this since I saw the first commercials, now I definitely think I will because I like Cage as well, and I don't mind vague plot points as well as they're well executed vague plot points.
I actually liked "Next" but I have been on more than one occasion been accused of having bad taste in movies now and then. In my defense I thought "Dark City" was downright brilliant, and yet at the same time think the same of "Ishtar" so my friends and family take anything I say about movies with a bucket of salt.
I'd been thinking about seeing this since I saw the first commercials, now I definitely think I will because I like Cage as well, and I don't mind vague plot points as well as they're well executed vague plot points.
Excellent, this one has an intriguing premise, and I've just been waiting to see if it got a decent review. Looks like we'll see a double tomorrow: Knowing and Taken. Two single word films; one day.
Excellent, this one has an intriguing premise, and I've just been waiting to see if it got a decent review. Looks like we'll see a double tomorrow: Knowing and Taken. Two single word films; one day.
Give Nick a break, yea some of the more recent movies of his have been formula, or what I like to refer to as Pay Check movies, the ones you do for the modavation of money as appose to art. Every actor since the end of the Studio System, had to contend with this, Nick Cage is no different, John Wayne made three in a row at the time to make up for losses with "The Alamo". He made North to Alaska, Donovan's Reef and Mc Clintock. All three are a hoot to watch, and since Duke Wayne is not considered a comic actor, its a double because they are so good.. There is nothing wrong with going out and doing something for a pay check. Sure some movies you do are better than others, some just stink, and then there are some that just click with out you knowing it at the time, Forrest Gump comes to mind. Or even better " A Christmas Story" that one didn't get great box office or gotten great reviews, it just became an American Classic in a very short period of time. We as a people tend to put to much stock into actors and the films they make. A movie is suppose to entertain you for a couple of hours nothing more. So go and get yourself a Daisy Red Rider BB Gun and defend the fort, just don't shoot your eye out!!!!!!
Thanks, Christian. I've enjoyed some of Cage's generic fare, but at most other times have wondered whether the man was simply going to pass through this life posing in front of the camera with that moody stare of his.
I'll have to give this a view, but probably not at theater ticket prices.
I hadn't heard of this film yet over here. But I was hooked once you mentioned a time capsule being opened. That alone has tremendous story telling potential.
Thanks for the review. And doubleplusthanks for not spoiling anything.
Wow that movie was a shock. Can't say more than that without ruining it for you. But I liked it a lot. I kind of wonder if a lot of it son't go over most peoples heads. Though my 9 year old daughter and 7 year old son recognized most of what was being said.
"doubleplusthanks"!! That's great. I'm sure Orwell wishes he'd thought of that!
Ever since "Put the Bunny Down" I have liked Nick Cage. I was surfing through the channels to day and ran across.."Peggy Sue Got Married"…lol. I could not believe that was Nicholas Cage in that movie. He was perfect for National Treasure…..just got done watching the end of BATTLESTAR GALACTICA….wish my toaster could talk like those…… I will prob go see "Knowing" this weekend…thanks for the review!!!!!!
I liked "Matchstick Men." Not a classic by any means, but he and Sam Rockwell played off each other very well. The action was minimal and the angst was palpable.
Well, my all time favorite is "Plan 9 From Outer Space," so I would be the last one to fault you on "Ishtar."
I like Nick Cage. I always liked him. I will see this on DVD. Maybe not spend the dollars for it. But his run with the National Treasure Series and stint with Jerry Bruckheimer makes me want to see him in more stuff. Good review Christian!
Gone in 60 Seconds……….that is all I need. That car. 1967 Shelby Mustang….growr.
I just finished BSG as well. Very disappointed. Reminded me of the end of the LOTR Return of the King.
I had mixed feelings. On the one hand I was glad that the end wasn't as dark as the rest of it had been — literally so, and on the other hand it didn't totally make sense. At least there was an ending and the show wasn't just dropped unresolved. Can't wait for the movie set to air in the fall– the one from the cylon's p.o.v. And Caprica looks pretty cool too…
This movie was terrific! The critics are hating on it because of its Christian themes. If you wait till the Dvd you will miss the full effect of supurb special effects. This movie really surprised me, from the commercials i thought it would be as lame as Jim Carrey`s Numbers, but this is on a different level.
I couldn't take "Ishtar" but I can't criticize since I liked "Heaven's Gate" and hated "Wizard of Oz", "Gone With the Wind" (loved the book though) and "Casablanca".
(hunkering down now for incomings)
I agree with everything you said except for "Heaven's Gate". I'm always getting into trouble whenever I say out loud that I think that "Casablanca" is boring and extremely overrated.
I like Nicholas Cage a lot and think he was brilliant in "Raising Arizona". The "National Treasure" movies are loads of fun too. Jon Voight is perfect as his dad and Helen Mirren was great as his mother.
"I'm always getting into trouble whenever I say out loud that I think that "Casablanca" is boring and extremely overrated. "
That's what's so great about the Web. We Contrarians can find each other. I agree "Casablanca" was boring and overrated, but what about the overacting of Ingrid Bergman? And didn't you want to help the Feds find and gut that annoying "E.T." Right after they choked Drew Barrymore and that dolt who played her brother. Spielberg is so manipulative as a director, I avoid his movies. And, by the way, I DESPISED "Indiana Jones" and think Michael Keaton was a much better Bruce Wayne than Christian Effing Bale (Ledger saved "Dark Knight") and Timothy Dalton was the best James Bond because he actually looked like he WOULD kill someone instead of joke them to death ala Connery and Moore. Brosnan fell to the toxicity of Madonna. (Have you noticed that whoever is in a film with the Material Girl disappears from the silver screen? Rupert Everett was one of my favorite actors until he starred with Madonna, then poof – he's gone.) CDC needs to look into whether Madonna is a bioweapon against movie stars.
Yes, this movie was great. Saw it yesterday and it's still going through my mind. I love how it entertained me in the theater and yet it's one of those that have you reflecting on it long afterward. Great movie.
I'm glad it had a relatively postive ending as well, but I thought very little of it made sense. I don't want to give any spoilers for people who haven't seen it, but I thought the humans did not act like real humans, and I wonder what the machine cylons (or the evil human cylcons) will do now. I also felt the ending just dragged. Not to mention, frankly, the message at the very end (about robots) seemed far to conventional and too conventionally done for the depth the show has been capable of.
I didn't get a good enough feel for what Caprica will be about from the trailer to have an opinion on it yet, but I'll check it out for sure.
Interesting theorem about Madonna's co-stars, but hardly an iron-clad one, as evidenced by Sean Penn and Pierce Brosnan (though he would've been better off if Mamma Mia WEREN'T on his resume)…
Sean Penn had a very LONG period of drought after his film with Madonna. Didn't hear of him for years. If George Bush hadn't been president, he might still be wandering in the hinterlands, but with the Bush presidency, any Leftwing lug nut willing to raise hell with and about Bush was given lead roles. This Madonna toxicity theory is just an idea — no research behind it — but I seem to remember Bandaras doing GREAT for awhile — in everything. Then he was in "Evita". Hardly ever hear of him anymore. The Spaniard with the exophthalmus is now the hot Spaniard. As far as Brosnan, he is a good looking man with decent acting chops but the "charisma" factor is missing.
"Mama Mia" or no, he hasn't done ANYTHING to speak of.
"Knowing" was shot on an $18K digital HD camera. Could anyone here that watched it tell that it wasn't "filmed" like other movies?
I actually liked Brosnan in "The Fourth Protocol" but seeing as how he was playing a psychopathic GRU agent, you may be correct with the lack of "charisma" thing. In fact, he was perhaps good in that role because of his lack of charisma rather than despite it.
I like Timothy Dalton quite a bit too, and thought he was flat out brilliant in "Hot Fuzz." Whenever I'm having a really bad day I just tell the little lady,"I need thome ithe cream." I never get any ice cream, but she usually cheers me up anyhow.
I liked "Wizard of Oz" but truth be told, the flying monkeys scared the crap out of me when I was a little kid, and to this day when they come onscreen that's my cue to go get something to drink, eat, look outside and check the weather, etc.
And I know "Ishtar" is a bad movie, it's a very bad movie, but I still love it. I'm strange like that, in fact I look at it from the viewpoint that they intended to make it as bad as possible, and if you go in with that in mind it's truly amazing. Although I was threatened with being shot once for singing the songs from the movie, but hey I was out in the middle of the desert and thought it would be funny, no one else did though so I ceased and desisted really quickly.
That $18k for the RedOne is really a misnomer. You'll still need a lens, viewfinder/monitor, audio and all that other stuff necessary to actually make it work. By then it'll no longer be $18k.
Secondly, the RedOne is not just an HD camera – it records 4K which is 4000 or so pixels across – 4x the visual space of HD (which is closer to 2k than 4k). Most films these days, even if they are shot on film, go through a telecine process which transfers them usually into 4k for work.
But price is not the factor here… the use of the Red camera is going to have more to do with the digital workflow necessary for the incredible amount of special effects in the film.
And I did see the movie… looked great… sounded even better… but something else is bugging me about the film.
I really liked the movie. The plot was interesting and the special effects were amazing. Parts of it were very spiritual. In the end, it'll all come down to the ending. It wasn't too much for me, but a lot of people will absolutely despise it.
Whatever the final cost of RedOne it still has a smaller TCO than any other camera in its class. Any movie with Nic Cage spends a minimum eighteen grand for the upkeep of that hairpiece of his–minimum.
I think my hubby will really like this movie, me, maybe. I always get accused of having weird movie tastes, Raising Arizona has always been a favorite. I hated that Leaving Las Vegas movie! I kept hoping I could find a piece of broken glass on the theatre floor, so I could open a vein, at least for the distraction. As for the appearing with Madonna is a career ender meme, from upthread, I thought I was the only one who subscribed to that notion. LOL>
Well perhaps…. I'm not up with all the other "High End Digital Film" cameras like Grass Valley or Genesis.
But to a studio film like this, where they'll spend more just on makeup – the costs of real/film versus digital are pretty insignificant.
Saw it last night. I like disaster films, have seen them all except recently when the disasters all started propagandizing about man-made climate change (which is hooey). "Knowing" is ENTERTAINING. It had
me sitting on the edge of my seat. Some of the special effects were so real I had to close my eyes. The
subtleties put into the film made me think afterwards. As the reviewer noted, it has plot holes as big as
buses, but while you are watching the film, they don't matter because you are involved in these people's
lives. I posted another Growlreview above. Keep in mind when I recommend a movie, I didn't like "Gone With the Wind", "Casablanca", hate "Wizard of Oz" and "ET", but do like "Heaven's Gate", "Lion in Winter", "The Advocate", "Brazil" so might be considered something of a contrarian.
Nick Cage has won an Oscar for acting.
Peter O'Toole has not.
In a world where bastard black moslem marxists without birth certificates can becomne president, I guess anything is possible.
http://www.alistz.net
[...] reviewed “Knowing” over at Big Hollywood … and “Crossing Over” at [...]
The action scenes were very well done, but the plot was so goofy that I had to laugh during some of the "serious" parts. The funny thing is, my wife knew right when, and what I'd laugh at.
Overall, I'd give it a lower case "ok", but would rather have seen "Taken" again as it was playing in the same multiplex. Oh well.
P.S. They could have titled it "Nothing" instead of "Knowing" and not been that far off except for the CGI scenes.
I saw the movie Saturday, and thought it was very entertaining. I enjoyed the suspense, the special effects – some of the most realistic disaster scenes ever, I thought – and the premise. Unfortunately, the execution by the director of the ending was not done well, and will probably ruin the film for many, particularly those who think that any association with religion immediately makes a film such as this 'the worst movie ever'. (Actually, I should have said "any association with 'the Christian religion…'". Had this been tied in to Islam, it would be hailed as "a thoughtful and open-minded examination of the human condition with a hopeful message of understanding…" or somesuch drivel.) The depiction of worldwide Armegeddon was too much, as was the final scene with the children. The message had already been delivered to the audience, the director should have chosen to be more subtle in closing the film. But I still like it a lot.
Thy only positive thing I have to say about this movie is it's freaky. The plot is very thin. It seems to me like little effort was made to develop the plot and characters. It just left me nauseous and empty. I could write the whole story down on one sheet of paper. It could have been so much more.
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