Knowing (2009)

DVD Released July 29, 2009

Alex Proyas' new science fiction film was undeservedly panned on its cinematic release. Though I don't champion it like Roger Ebert (who gave it 4/4), Knowing is an ambitious and thought-provoking thriller.

Nicholas Cage, in a predictable performance, plays John Koestler, a Cosmologist who teaches at MIT. Grappling with the argument of free will vs determinism, John dejectedly tells his students that he now believes that there "is no grand meaning, no purpose" and that "shit just happens". His son Caleb (Chandler Canterbury) then uncovers a letter from a student "time-capsule" created fifty years earlier. Most of the letters contain drawings of children's imaginings of the future, but his is a seemingly random array of numbers. John discovers that the numbers may contain within them predictions about certain catastrophic events. Also pivotal is Diana, the daughter of woman who drew the original artwork, played by Aussie Rose Byrne.

I'm loathe to spoil the events and revelations of the plot, even though they themselves provide an ideal platform for discussion and disagreement. They work on their own terms even though the Spielbergian finale is too left-field and didactic in comparison with the nebulous atmosphere created up until that point.

There are not enough intelligent and thoughtful science-fiction movies being made, and Knowing deserves recognition for being as ambitious as it is. But not all of it works, and the dreadfully serious tone comes precariously close to parody. Visually there are some astounding long-takes and visceral action sequences that are effective despite some artificial computer generated effects. As always, it’s the way the effects are used rather than their quality that is most important.

The disc contains a insightful commentary from Proyas, who is clearly invested in the film but sounds bored with the whole commentary process, and inexplicably the trailer for the Dakota Fanning starring Push because...well just because.

Proyas also made Dark City, an underrated cult-classic which shares similar themes. Knowing is not on its level, and suffers more from Proyas’ tendency to make the climax too rushed and simplistic. Nonetheless it’s intriguing and conversation-inducing.

3/5