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What do you do if you’re a movie producer with a convoluted (aka crappy) script and millions of dollars to blow?  Apparently the answer to this question is “Hire Nicolas Cage”.  

It seems his movies are getting stranger by the year and that says a lot if you consider Face Off, Wicker Man and Ghost Rider. The film is loosely based on a short story by Philip K. Dick, but bares little resemblance to the original after receiving the Hollywood treatment:

Love Interest? Check

Chase Scene? Check

Ominous Government Agents? Check

Terrorist plot to blow shit up? Check

The premise is that Chris Johnson, a hack of a magician working in a Las Vegas lounge has the ability to see 2 minutes into the future, no more, no less: a talent that comes in handy when he wants to make a little money in a hand of blackjack or approach a girl in a coffee shop. Despite his attempts at blending, he manages to gain the notice of a government agent (Julianne Moore) who knows about his precognitive talent and wants him to track down terrorists.   Instead of stepping up to do his civic duty and save millions of lives, Johnson runs.  From here the plot becomes completely unbelievable: not because he can see into the future, run faster than a speeding bullet or leap buildings in a single bound; because his love interest in Jessica Biel. Why do movie makers insist on putting the hottest young actresses in movies with these old, worn out, homely men?  And Jessica, really - could the money be that good?  

 

Next is essentially Groundhog Day with more explosions and less heart. There are a few funny moments, such as Johnson working through hundreds of scenarios before he approached Biel in the coffee shop, but they’re few and far between.  The romantic plot is just icky and I wanted to see more of Moore.  

I’m sure die hard Cage fans will enjoy this movie, because he swaggers and smirks through the film and all the way to the bank.  I was disappointed because it COULD have been a good film, thought provoking, adrenaline inducing and full of fast paced fun - it just WASN’T.

 I’m almost afraid to ask what’s Next for Nicholas Cage…

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