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Next By Harry Forbes Catholic News Service NEW YORK (CNS) -- Last year's underwhelming screen adaptation of Philip K. Dick's "A Scanner Darkly" boded ill for the newest cinema incarnation of the late science-fiction writer's work. Happily, "Next" (Paramount) -- taken from Dick's story "The Golden Man" -- is a taut, atmospheric thriller concerning Cris (Nicolas Cage), a Las Vegas magician born with the uncanny power of seeing into the near future (two minutes). Early in the film, he disarms a bandit about to hold up (and kill) a casino cashier. The casino's security team assumes Cris was the putative criminal, and attempts to apprehend him. But, in the first of several cleverly filmed sequences, Cris' precognitive powers allow him to evade the security force at every turn. Meanwhile, all of this is observed by hard-nosed FBI agent Callie Ferris (Julianne Moore), who earlier had attended Cris' magic act, and though the script doesn't explain, somehow knows of his extraordinary real powers. It seems terrorists are about to deploy a nuclear weapon, and Callie is hoping to co-opt Cris to use his extraordinary powers to determine precisely where. Cris learns the feds are on his trail. He seemingly knows he won't be able to help because his clairvoyant powers are so limited, and therefore decides to skip town. At a roadside diner, Cris spies the beautiful Liz (Jessica Biel), whom he has "seen" before. She is clearly meant to be his fated soul mate; only where Liz is concerned can Cris see beyond his two-minute limit -- a plot point which comes into significant play later on. Cris gallantly defends Liz from an abusive ex-boyfriend in the diner, so she offers to give him a lift, stopping off at a reservation near the Grand Canyon where he learns that Liz is a teacher of the underprivileged children there. Liz admires Cris' way with the kids, paving the way to love. Meanwhile, the terrorists know of the FBI's intense interest in finding Cris to uncover their whereabouts, and decide he must die. Once Cris understands what he's up against, his goal is to convince Liz he's not "delusional" and then keep her out of harm's way. Director Lee Tamahori directs deftly, and there are several rather extraordinary sequences -- most excitingly an avalanche of logs, rocks, a train and a water tower that Cris must dodge as he tries to escape down a steep hill. By its very nature, of course, the story requires major suspension of disbelief. Apart from the fantasy elements, surely, the basically decent Cris would want to help humanity if it were possible. And does Callie have to be quite so harsh and immutable (at least for three-quarters of the film)? But if one surrenders to the premise, the likable leads, stylish production design, special effects and cinematography reward viewing, and unlike most Hollywood product of this genre, there's relatively little objectionable content, apart from the items below. The film contains action violence with shootings and killings, a premarital situation, some crude words and profanity, mild innuendo and a fistfight. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. - - - Forbes is director of the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. More reviews are available online at www.usccb.org/movies. END Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed. CNS · 3211 Fourth St NE · Washington DC 20017 · 202.541.3250 |
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