Great film. Was not sure whether it would keep me gripped but it did. Recommend anyone to watch it!
Story: Adapted from a mind-bending sci-fi thriller by Philip K. Dick, the slick and riveting PAYCHECK is directed by John Woo (THE KILLER, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE II)--the king of artful gunfighting flicks--who shows off his agility here with flat-out, white-knuckle cinematic entertainment. Michael Jennings (Ben Affleck) is a high-paid engineer who works on hush-hush computer inventions and technology for shady companies. Later, his memory is wiped clean, so he has no recollection of his work. His so-called friend Rethrick (Aaron Eckhardt, the master of smarmy mean-spiritedness, as in IN THE COMPANY OF MEN) offers him enough money to retire by working on a project at Rethrick's company, Allcom. When Jennings emerges three years later, sans memory, he tries to collect his paycheck. At the bank, he's handed a manila envelope filled with cryptic items he doesn't recognise, and told he voluntarily forfeited his entire paycheck. He also has a stunning girlfriend named Dr. Rachel Porter (Uma Thurman) who is likewise ensnared in the conspiracy. Jennings must somehow piece together the clues he left for himself, and find out why everyone is out to kill him. As usual, Dick's story is the basis for a killer script that travels from point A to Z with gripping immediacy. The clues left for Jennings are amusing writerly devices, intricately pieced together. Woo clearly enjoyed choreographing the wild gunfighting and chase sequences (slo-mo bullets aplenty), sending Affleck and Thurman on the run with a BMW motorcycle. Comments: Ben Affleck has been given 20 items to help him prevent his own murder. ( 19 items IN envelop, and 1 stamp ON the envelop containing pictures from the future ) The theory about infinite sight taking you into the future is a unique concept, however i wonder how they are able to see at a other location then where they are exactly, could this be what the computer is being used for to change the camera angle or something? When you think about it, then it doesn't make that mutch sense, it's more of a christal ball theory then actual psychical one that can be achieved. When you go FASTER then the speed of light then time around you slows down and you can move into the future, but actual seeing into the future as they explain here i don't think that that's possible, not to say that one could ever achieve to go faster then the speed of light. Interesting movie, great action scenes, Ben doing his best as a actor, and i think it's going to be a nice movie to watch with your girlfriend because there are some nice romantic scenes hidden in the movie. A+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Read full review
Has Ben Affleck been taking acting lessons? Well, maybe not, but he fares a lot better as a man who can't remember anything in his latest sci-fi thriller, "Paycheck," by action director extraordinaire John Woo. The latest film also marks another adaptation of a Philip K. Dick short story, whose writing also has inspired "Minority Report," "Total Recall" and "Blade Runner." Michael Jennings (Affleck) is a reverse engineer, a technological mercenary for hire creating top secret inventions for companies that pay him for the work and then erase all his memory of that experience. After another successful two-month job, his longtime friend Jimmy (Aaron Eckhart) contacts Michael for a much longer job with a much larger paycheck, one big enough to assure instant retirement. After completing the assignment, Michael heads to the bank to receive his check but finds that he has already forfeited his shares of the company and sent an envelope to himself containing 19 different items with no apparent connection. Caught in the middle of a conspiracy between his former employer and the government, Michael must use each item to help save his girlfriend (Uma Thurman) and himself from his future. "Paycheck" is an incredibly simple story that creates an entertaining complexity through the 19 items that Affleck's character must use to save the future. Unlike some of Dick's other adaptations, like "Minority Report," "Paycheck" lasts only as long as it should, taking the time to explain all of its twists and turns but not adding anything too extravagant for the average viewer. Thurman and Paul Giamatti (starring as Jennings' friend) are also pleasant additions to the film's cast, but Eckhart's turn as a villain simply isn't convincing. The sci-fi roots that support "Paycheck" shouldn't scare anyone away either, because the film plays more as an action thriller than the few science fiction elements that are tied to the story. While Affleck's performance is surprisingly above par, the film's appeal comes directly from the sharp writing and creativity of the plot.Read full review
This film is ok. Its cliched and very predictable but still fun in parts. It has good stunts and the story is quite immaginative. According to a feature on the DVD, this film is influenced by Hitchcock movies and more specfically, North by Northwest, so fans of that or hitchcock fans should enjoy this. The DVD also has a quite bad alternative ending, and its obvious why that ending wasnt used, but the ending used isnt much better, in the true Hollywood style, good guys win and all live happily ever after. If you like Sci-fi or action adventures, then this is the movie for you.
Story: Adapted from a mind-bending sci-fi thriller by Philip K. Dick, the slick and riveting PAYCHECK is directed by John Woo (THE KILLER, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE II)--the king of artful gunfighting flicks--who shows off his agility here with flat-out, white-knuckle cinematic entertainment. Michael Jennings (Ben Affleck) is a high-paid engineer who works on hush-hush computer inventions and technology for shady companies. Later, his memory is wiped clean, so he has no recollection of his work. His so-called friend Rethrick (Aaron Eckhardt, the master of smarmy mean-spiritedness, as in IN THE COMPANY OF MEN) offers him enough money to retire by working on a project at Rethrick's company, Allcom. When Jennings emerges three years later, sans memory, he tries to collect his paycheck. At the bank, he's handed a manila envelope filled with cryptic items he doesn't recognise, and told he voluntarily forfeited his entire paycheck. He also has a stunning girlfriend named Dr. Rachel Porter (Uma Thurman) who is likewise ensnared in the conspiracy. Jennings must somehow piece together the clues he left for himself, and find out why everyone is out to kill him.Read full review
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