"Knowing" leaves viewers doing the opposite (* ½)
Ryan Anderson
Issue date: 4/21/09 Section: Entertainment
The film is directed by Alex Proyas, known mostly for the Will Smith actioner "I, Robot" (2004). Here we get a taste of what Proyas is good for, quick paces and explosions, as well as what he isn't , scaring audiences. Several scenes throughout the film depict little Caleb being stalked by a mysterious group of "whisper people"; all who look strangely similar to Billy Idol. None of these scenes had the desired effect of heightened tension. Some actually made the audience laugh. Not as much, however, as the final fifteen minutes.
Throughout the picture the writers seem to be building towards the obvious; setting the viewer up with questions of the metaphysical. Is there a heaven? Is there a hell? Are events here on earth intertwined? Do they have a purpose? Or are we all just here because of a chain of random accidents? These are major questions. They deserve major answers. I can only assume the writers realized this halfway through, panicked, and just threw their hands up. Because that is ultimately what the conclusion of this movie feels like: abandonment of everything promised by the first act. Other than some top-notch special effects, one has to wonder what the goal of the people behind this movie was. Were they aiming to make a movie labeled the disingenuous cousin of "Signs"? If so, well done, gentlemen.
Throughout the picture the writers seem to be building towards the obvious; setting the viewer up with questions of the metaphysical. Is there a heaven? Is there a hell? Are events here on earth intertwined? Do they have a purpose? Or are we all just here because of a chain of random accidents? These are major questions. They deserve major answers. I can only assume the writers realized this halfway through, panicked, and just threw their hands up. Because that is ultimately what the conclusion of this movie feels like: abandonment of everything promised by the first act. Other than some top-notch special effects, one has to wonder what the goal of the people behind this movie was. Were they aiming to make a movie labeled the disingenuous cousin of "Signs"? If so, well done, gentlemen.
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