Knowing

John Chard

Pythagorus As Nostradamus. Knowing is directed by Alex Proyas and collectively written by Ryne Douglas Pearson, Juliet Snowden and Stiles White. It stars Nicolas Cage, Rose Byrne, Chandler Canterbury, Lara Robinson, Ben Mendelsohn and Nadia Townsend. Music is by Marco Beltrami and cinematography by Simon Duggan. 1959, and young schoolgirl Lucinda Embry (Robinson) keeps hearing voices. When asked to submit a drawing for the school time capsule– that's to be opened in 50 years time,– she writes a series of random numbers that don't appear to make sense. Forward to 50 years and the grand opening of the capsule, where Professor Jonathan Koestler (Cage) and his young son come by way of Lucinda's numbers. Just what do they mean? If anything?... Ah yes, the good old disaster movie, a genre of film that continues unabated through the decades, this in spite of critical indifference. But the paying public still keep turning up in droves, even in this new technological age. Where once was models being destroyed, and paintings forming elegant backdrops, now is whizz bangery that costs a fortune. Still great fun, though, which is why something like Knowing exists and has many fans. It's a splendid piece of sci-fi hokum pulsing with supernatural overtones, a gentle creeper unravelling the mystery in layers until the final countdown begins. The science is obviously dubious (it's a movie folks) and the air of pessimism that hovers consistently over proceedings (not only is the world in trouble, but all the protags have miserable issues as well), may be too much for some. However, Cage is as committed as ever, Proyas yet again proves himself a beautiful visualist, while the scenes of carnage are truly harrowing and unforgettable. A popcorner with moments of wonder and awe, and yes of course, some cheese as well. Ignore the Cage haters, if you like sci-fi infused disaster movies and haven't had fun with this one yet, then do so, it's a blast. And did I say it's gorgeous to look at as well? It is!… 7/10

Wuchak

***What if everything’s not just meaningless chance?*** A disillusioned professor in the Boston area (Nicolas Cage) acquires a document that has successfully predicted tragedies for the last fifty years, but new ones as well (!). Rose Byrne plays the daughter of the seer. “Knowing” (2009) is a quality drama/mystery with elements of disaster/sci-fi and even a little horror. It’s along the lines of wonder-inducing flicks like “The Mothman Prophecies” (2002), “Contact” (1997), “The Forgotten” (2004), “The X-Files: Fight the Future” (1998), “Signs” (2002), “The Day the Earth Stood Still” (2008) and “War of the Worlds” (2005). If you favor the style and themes of those movies you’ll probably like this one. The film runs 2 hours, 1 minute and was shot in Victoria, Australia, with establishing shots of the Boston/Cambridge area. GRADE: B

Gimly

A very intriguing set-up, but not much else of note is found in _Knowing_. _Final rating:★★ - Had some things that appeal to me, but a poor finished product._

"Knowing" (2009) is one of those movies that grabs your attention with an intriguing concept and keeps you hooked with its mystery and suspense. The plot, while ambitious and unique, sometimes feels like it bites off more than it can chew, especially with character depth and emotional weight. The film builds tension effectively but doesn't always make you feel invested in the people involved. Nicolas Cage delivers a solid performance, carrying the film with his usual mix of intensity and brooding energy. The directing by Alex Proyas is well-executed, creating an eerie, unsettling atmosphere that keeps things engaging. Visually, the cinematography does a great job of amplifying the film's apocalyptic themes, with some standout sequences that are both haunting and well-shot. The CGI, though not perfect, holds up for the most part. The script has its strong moments, especially in its pacing and mystery elements, but it leans heavily on exposition at times, which can make certain parts feel more like a lecture than organic dialogue. The score adds to the eerie and suspenseful tone, effectively building tension in key moments. While the film might not be a masterpiece, it is still an entertaining watch with an interesting premise, good directing, and some genuinely tense moments. If you go in without expecting deep character exploration and just want a gripping mystery with a bit of a sci-fi twist, it’s definitely worth a watch.