All About Movies

Genres: Action/Adventure, Science Fiction/Fantasy and Thriller

Running Time: 2 hrs. 1 min.

Release Date: March 20th, 2009 (wide)

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for disaster sequences, disturbing images and brief strong language.

Distributors: Summit Entertainment, LLC, Sony Pictures Releasing

U.S. Box Office: $78,836,466


Im going to throw this out there right now - this movie isn't for everyone. Despite the heavy advertising and the overall mainstream appeal the studio is trying to establish for the film, 'Knowing' isn't blockbuster material. Yeah, there are some killer special effects, and yeah, there are some pretty sweet disaster sequences, but lets face it: this isn't 'Transformers' or even Proyas' last big budget attempt, 'I, Robot.'

No, this is science fiction to the core, and to some, that is exactly what the doctor ordered. It is a thriller of sorts, since suspense is created from the unknown. The characters, and thus the viewers, discover the unknown through an unfolding narrative, with a big pay-off at the end.

That being said, as with the nature of this particular genre, the big pay-off may throw some viewers off. It isn't a cheap ending since whatever twists involved were set up early on in the film. I, for one, found it very satisfying. It made me think, long after I finished watching the movie, which is the best pay-off any movie can really give a viewer. Without giving too much away, this movie really acts as a spiritual successor to the excellent 'Dark City,' another Proyas film that left me pondering well after the film was done.

Maybe Proyas could have found a better actor than Nicholas Cage to play the lead role, but all in all he did a respectable job. The overall tone of the film reflects the director's unique style: an overall sense of dispair set to (i apologize for overusing this term) a very sinister 'unknown.' I hope Proyas continues to make movies within this frame, since they are so compelling to watch.

In the end, I thouroughly enjoyed 'Knowing,' and I feel that others who enjoy the deep complexities of true sci-fi will enjoy it as well.