Review of Paycheck (2003) by Benedick L — 29 Dec 2009

This film does pose an interesting question (admittedly by the author of the original book rather than the film itself but it is the film that brought it ot my attention): would you take $100 million if it meant three years of your life did not happen (i.e you have your memory erased of these years)?

As this question was posed to me during the film, I began to ponder on it while the film played. Oh the rest of the film doesn't require much of your brain to enjoy it so thinking about the answer to this question makes it more enjoyable.

I thought, what if they made me kill someone? Technically, to me, it never happened. I wouldn't feel guilty about it because I wouldn't know but what about the consequences? Would I get arrested? Why would I be offered such a large sum of money in the first place? This question is not answered in the film. In fact, something more global is answered here which I won't reveal as it reveals the climax and thus rendering watching the film useless. I suppose it won't make much of a difference but for those film buffs out there who have yet to see this film, I won't reveal it.

The main reason I brought this was not because of the question raised earlier or the stars (Ben Affleck, yuck, Uma Thurman, yuck) but because of John Woo, a master of action. Here, he doesn't demonstrate it that much but it is still evident. Especially the ever present white dove.

See this if you like to ponder about sci-fi hypothetical questions and enjoy brainless action but don't expect too much.