Review of Before I Go to Sleep (2014) by Quincytheodore — 14 Mar 2015

There was once an Adam Sandler movie, when he wasn't completely unbearable on-screen, about a girl who suffers from constant memory loss. If you have seen 50 First Dates, the comedy flair might conceal how much said girl could be manipulated and abused. For those darker minds, Before I Go to Sleep will cater to your need. The film has a solid cast as well as good pacing and editing, but it might have just confined itself with the inflexible formula and repetitive thriller antics.

Christine (Nicole Kidman) wakes up without memory from many years of her life, this is a daily struggle for her as her mind isn't capable of retaining new information. Ben (Colin Firth) as her husband must repeat the cycle of explanation every morning, it has become a taxing task to him. Christine seeks the help of Dr. Nasch (Mark Strong) to figure out how to resolve her memory issue, they slowly discover that her past life may be less happy than expected.

The three main actors perform fantastically. Great acting range and in-depth characterization make their interactions into suspenseful human drama. Kidman is easily sympathetic as she displays sorrow with passion. Marks Strong is at his niche for playing authority figure, he has a charismatically calming presence, and meanwhile Firth portrays a man with compassion and possibly secrets. It's quite thrilling to see the film shifts between these personalities and ensures audiences question their motives.

That being said, the premise doesn't offer much leeway for execution beyond what has already been done before, a bit ironic since it's only used prominently in 50 First Dates and Christopher Nolan's Memento. The movie often recycles the events due to necessity, or relies on plot devices which are predictable such as overused visual clues or simple gimmick. This may slow down the pace and lessen the twists it has in store.

Nevertheless, it has good production value with cool cinematography and amazing cast. Before I Go to Sleep might be fleeting, but it is a satisfactory mystery thriller.