Hi, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab...
I actually like the trailer for this one. I know many of you have already decided to hate Ashton Kutcher, but he seems like a guy who is on the verge of starting his “real” career, and I’m curious to see what he ends up doing. This review is for a version of the movie that may not be what ends up in theaters next year. Check it out and let’s see if he liked it or not...
About 60-odd people were present at the screening. The movie, in the directors cut was on 2 DVD's, although it had a realitvely normal running time. It was projected on 2 screens (main room and an overflow room), and the director spent a large amount of time adjusting the color of the LCD projector prior to the show. This turned out to be important...keep an eye on the color during the movie... One other note - I was shocked to see that some of the films crew brought thier kids to the screening. This is DEFINITELY an adult themed movie, and not for children. I do not know what it will ultimately be rated.
The director (Eric Bress) explained that the cut of the movie we were about to see was the directors cut with the original ending - and maybe it would be on the DVD. This would be the only time it would ever be shown on the 'big screen' Several scenes the studio had cut were included, and the ending was different than the final cut. Everyone at the screening - including many of the locals who were on the production - were very excited.
To be honest I did not know anything in advance of the screening, and to be frank I thought I was going to see a cheesy independent film. I had seen references to it on your website, but because of who was involved, did not really investigate further. With Kutcher involved, I assumed the worst.
I was pleasantly suprised - and very impressed with this cut of the movie. Running just shy of 2 hours in length, the movie opens with a nice quote about Chaos theory - the old addage that the flapping of a butterfly's wing on one side of the world, could cause a typhoon somewhere else - sorry, not a verbatim quote. Everyone in the room mumered a bit - what is this about?
Before I say anymore - I should point out that I rank this film up in the same category as the Sixth Sense and A Beautiful Mind in that if you know too much before seeing this film, I really believe the experience will be diminished. It is sickening on some levels (pedophiles), illuminating (what path does our lives take) on others, and I believe brilliant in the way it deals with the decisions we make. Can you change the present by altering the past? And if you could, what would the consequences be?
...and BTW, Mr. Kutcher ultimately does not suck. In fact, he's quite the actor. Not-Oscar caliber here, but good enough to make me want to see the movie again.
**moderate spoilers**
In a short description, I believe the movie is a cross between the Sixth Sense thematically, and your traditional time travel story in the way it works. The details that are laid throughout the story are fantatstic, intelligent, and very thought-provoking. TAKE NOTE! Details are everything here. The story does not flow in your traditional linear style, with story elements told in flashbacks -which become active story elements near the end of the picture.
The story begins with a young boy Evan (eventually played by Kutcher) who is experiencing blackouts that seem to be keyed with significant, perhaps violent, events in his life. His father, who we evetually learn has experienced simular balckouts, is institutionalized for an undiagnosed sickness. To help deal with his memory loss, Evan is encouraged to keep a journal - which he does from age seven and on...
Later in life, after a period of seven years the adult Evan begins to revisit the blackouts by rereading the events of his childhood. He is shocked to find out many things he had forgotten about, many dealing with painful events which would scar most adults today. It brings many questions to mind about painfull memories - how much of it is true, and how much of it is your own imagination. Faced with the painfull events written in his own hand - ironically taking place near the blackouts - Evan decides to contact his three childhood friends to find out exactly what happenend, and maybe find the cause for the blackouts.
He finds that life has not treated his friends well - each being scared as adults by absolutley horrible events in their childhood. His interaction with them again after all of these years has a VERY tragic and UNEXPECTED conclusion. As a viewer, we begin to question if what Evan had recorded in his journals was real - is this all happening in his mind?
Returning back to University, he reopens the Journals and experiences- or should I say - relives a past moment. Upon awakening, he realizes that he has altered the present, by making a small change in the past. Realizing that he might be able to change the present in larger ways - he sets on a journey which allows him to relive horrifying events in his past, and attempts to alter the present and correct the tragic lives of his friends.
Just one last spoiler point - if you could go back to the point before you were abused....what would you (as a child with the mind of an adult from the present) say to your abuser? The dialog here was EXTRAORDINARY!
I really want to tell you more details - but frankly it would ruin it for you.
**spoilers end**
Unfortunately, the consequences of every action, no matter how small, ultimately have undesirable and unseen effects. Evans 'back-steps' are brilliantly handled, and at no point did I loose my belief in the story. Suspension of belief is critical in a story such as this - and how he accomplishes his trips to the past are ultimately ingenious.
Overall I was blown away - the story was excellent, with the audience kept in a sense of 'what's next??' and absolute aprehension. I could not predict anything with this movie - refreshing! The violence was extreme, but done off camera always leaving you stunned and shocked. The sense of brutality that kids can face is tastetfully handled, although I sense it will likely provoke a broader discussion on pedophilia and violence in society. And just how that violence can effect us later in life - and the unforseen consequences that follow.
I half-expected the film to drift into a Star- Trek resolution, but with each attempt to alter the present, Evan is met with yet another unusual (unexpected) outcome. Again - the beauty of this movie is in the details. Fear not faithfull viewer - your patience is rewarded at the end. Again, and again. I could not punch a hole anywhere in the story. Is it a time-travel story? Yes and No. Is it a love story - YES, but not in the way you'd expect. Ultimately, it's a story about redemption, and what you might do, if you could. If you have ever expereinced abuse, it will touch you because I am sure we all have said.. "what if" we could change the past.
After many predictable theatrical dissapointments this summer & fall, this movie is thought-provoking and leaves you wanting more (despite its very clear ending). I rank it up with the A Beautiful Mind and the Sixth Sense in how I left the theatre feeling. I look forward to viewing the Studio's cut in the spring of 2004.
The directors cut has a different ending. Having seen it, in concert with now deleted scenes, I am suprised that the studio requested the alternate ending. Ultimately uplifting, it gives a new twist on a VERY classic Sci-Fi theme.
As for Kutcher - he actually quite good. In fact, half-way through I finally let go 'Dude, Where's my....' and I began to relate to his character. This was definitely a role he wanted.
Saruman of the Great White North.
Interesting. Thanks for the review, Saruman. Now take off, eh?
"Moriarty" out.
