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User Reviews for: Knowing

Whitsbrain
8/10  2 years ago
I didn't know what to expect from "Knowing". It had a few things working against it from the start. First, I'm not much of a Nicolas Cage fan. Second, the movie also starred a kid. And while I really like kids, I don't like them in my Sci-Fi. There are other things I could mention too, but it's all rather pointless because I liked "Knowing" very much.

Cage actually was very good here though he played a character we've seen in many other movies. You know the husband who is disenfranchised with the world and with his faith in any and all things, brought on by the recent death of his wife. Plus, he's got a son that he's losing touch with. All of these things had me ready for a snoozer of a film until Cage's character uncovers the meaning behind a mysterious page covered in numbers.

The movie is best in its first 90 minutes when the unraveling of the mystery takes place. It fades in it's final 30, when it wants to become an action flick. I will say that this has a very realistic effects sequence involving a plane crash. It's riveting because it is so real. The erupting fireball and subsequent explosions were as true to life as any I've seen in a fictional film. Director Alex Proyas sends Cage into the horror to rescue some of the crash victims and does so in an extremely effective long take. There are other amazing effects as well, especially the "EE" disaster which I won't reveal other than to say that I can't remember seeing an extended disaster so frighteningly created in a movie.

The reason that I can't rate this any higher is because the ending was not as satisfying as the rest of the film.

"Knowing" starts small in its scope, but grows into something almost inconceivably large.
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John Chard
/10  6 years ago
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
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Wuchak
/10  5 years ago
***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” (2008), “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
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Gimly
/10  4 years ago
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._
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