A man comes out of a coma with amnesia. He believes he was in a plane crash that killed his wife and kid and he worked for an agency as assassin. Soon he's sent on another mission. Who is he... Read allA man comes out of a coma with amnesia. He believes he was in a plane crash that killed his wife and kid and he worked for an agency as assassin. Soon he's sent on another mission. Who is he and who can he trust?A man comes out of a coma with amnesia. He believes he was in a plane crash that killed his wife and kid and he worked for an agency as assassin. Soon he's sent on another mission. Who is he and who can he trust?
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He's a new man
This is a very enjoyable amnesiac secret agent drama. Alec Baldwin is good at this sort of thing, and does well as the man who may or may not be who he thinks he is, or might be. He wakes up in hospital after a plane crash, and is slowly rehabilitated and treated by a woman psychiatrist for his mental trauma. Or so it seems. This is a British TV film well directed by Ben Bolt. Baldwin's acting abilities have been conspicuous ever since he played the lead in the excellent TV series DRESS GRAY (1986, see my review), which unfortunately has never been released on DVD. Here the demands placed upon him are few, because these action films generally just require a grim determination, occasional looks of puzzlement, some interplay with the female lead, getting shot at, leaping over walls, and so on, all of which happens here, of course. Here the woman psychiatrist is played by the British actress Louise Lombard, who has a nice voice and looks appropriately earnest. The villain is played by Powers Boothe, who really knows how to be quietly sinister when he wants to be. As is usual with these films, the hero has been subjected to mind-programming, an advanced form of brain-washing using high-tech techniques by means of brain probes and other ominous devices. Films have been made with actors and actresses which are then fed into his brain and false memories, which when he wakes up he believes are his genuine memories. The key moment in the film is when he sees his 'wife' appearing as a stewardess in a safety video on an airplane. He traces her and discovers that she is an actress, and not his wife at all. These stories about people not knowing who they are are intriguing, as who really knows who he or she is anyway?
Cornflakes...
As happens more often than expected, I was tricked again by an opening scene. Crappy flashback shots, a guy in a hospital bed and uninspired opening credits. Oh-oh...
Fortunately, the movie is not as lousy as the first scene. Helped by the 'stay cool' performance of Baldwin and Lombard, it is a fair watch. The plot is interesting, and it's good that they don't spoil the surprise quickly. The thing that ruins it a bit though is that the 'brainwash' method is portrayed very clumsily. Instead of showing a guy with electrodes on his head while watching pre-acted memories, why not simply a brain implant? Now, it really looks like a bad science fiction fantasy, which invades the further part of the story.
Fortunately, the movie is not as lousy as the first scene. Helped by the 'stay cool' performance of Baldwin and Lombard, it is a fair watch. The plot is interesting, and it's good that they don't spoil the surprise quickly. The thing that ruins it a bit though is that the 'brainwash' method is portrayed very clumsily. Instead of showing a guy with electrodes on his head while watching pre-acted memories, why not simply a brain implant? Now, it really looks like a bad science fiction fantasy, which invades the further part of the story.
Mix The Bourne Identity and Son of Sam and waddya ya got? A mess is what
It's a shame that quality actors like Baldwin and Booth have to succumb to lousy stories and scripts just for the money. But, hey, it's a cruel world...
This is just another one of a long line of assassin thrillers that use all the usual narrative twists to try to make it appear more appealing than it is. Sure, it has some nice locations, it's a slick production, there is some good camera work and editing, and it's fairly well paced, overall.
So, what's the real problem? Quite simply, the whole premise is just totally unbelievable. However, instead of spoiling a rotten story for you, I'll let you find out what it's all about, that is, if you can get through it. I managed, but only because I like Baldwin and I kept hoping that it would get better.
It didn't. And, it had one of the most anti-climactic endings that I've seen for a long time. In fact, maybe never...
But, it's harmless fun, I guess, if you've got nothing better to do.
This is just another one of a long line of assassin thrillers that use all the usual narrative twists to try to make it appear more appealing than it is. Sure, it has some nice locations, it's a slick production, there is some good camera work and editing, and it's fairly well paced, overall.
So, what's the real problem? Quite simply, the whole premise is just totally unbelievable. However, instead of spoiling a rotten story for you, I'll let you find out what it's all about, that is, if you can get through it. I managed, but only because I like Baldwin and I kept hoping that it would get better.
It didn't. And, it had one of the most anti-climactic endings that I've seen for a long time. In fact, maybe never...
But, it's harmless fun, I guess, if you've got nothing better to do.
A person within a person!
Interesting but otherwise implausible thriller finds a man (Baldwin) with problems to remember his own identity. Along the way, he is harrased by a group of government agents (or so they seem to be) and have to fight for his life. The movie has standard pace but is not dull or uninteresting. In fact, this one is just a routine entry made with some competence. I give this a 06 (six).
Good Plot, Bad Execution
I thought this movie had an above average plot, and actually looked like it would be better than the Borne Identity at first. However, shoddy acting and an anticlimatic finish to the movie really don't help it any.
If you're looking for an action movie, don't rent this as it has very little. If you're looking for a psychological thriller, don't rent this as the plot twists become contrived at the end to help along the plot. As a matter of fact, I simply can't think of anyone who would feel compelled to see this. Just an average movie that would be worth watching if you catch it on TV and don't have anything else to do.
Don't let your expectations get too high early, however.
If you're looking for an action movie, don't rent this as it has very little. If you're looking for a psychological thriller, don't rent this as the plot twists become contrived at the end to help along the plot. As a matter of fact, I simply can't think of anyone who would feel compelled to see this. Just an average movie that would be worth watching if you catch it on TV and don't have anything else to do.
Don't let your expectations get too high early, however.
Did you know
- TriviaPaul Kane says his mother was French. This is true of Alec Baldwin in real life.
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