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Review #454 of 365
Movie Review of Next (2007) [PG-13] 96 minutes
WIP™ Scale: $10.00
Where Viewed: United Artists Denver Pavilions Stadium 15, Denver, CO
When 1st Seen: 27 April 2007
Time: 10:30 p.m.
Film's Official Website • Film's Trailer
DVD Release Date: 25 September 2007
Directed by: Lee Tamahori (xXx: State of the Union)
Written by: Gary Goldman (Navy Seals), Jonathan Hensleigh (The Punisher), & Paul Bernbaum (Hollywoodland) based on the novel The Golden Man by Philip K. Dick
Featured Cast (Where You Might Remember Him/Her From):
Nicolas Cage (Ghost Rider) • Julianne Moore (Children of Men) • Jessica Biel (The Illusionist)
Soundtrack: Download now from 
— or — order the CD below
Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word or less review of this film]
You just finished reading this review and clicked the Amazon.com link to buy the DVD for Next even though you've been woefully unthrilled by Nicholas Cage in his previous few films and wonder why he keeps getting cast in this really odd roles not noticing the producing credits which often list his name and you're more likely to get cast in a film if you're footing some of the bill, but anyway, the click opens you into a new window of your Internet browser of choice and you start reading about the DVD.
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I don't like the fact that you clicked the on the link to buy the DVD so quickly. What if I plant a picture of Jessica Biehl here? Yeah, she's in the movie. She's popular. That should keep you at movieEVERYday.com a bit longer. That should hold your interest. Ok, so sure, yes, let's be sure to put in a pic of Jessica. While we're at it, let's not forget to put in a pic of Julianne Moore also. First, she's one of those exceptional women who grows more and more beautifully irresistable as she ages (which she only ages about 1 month for every year). And, sure throw in a pic of Mr. Cage from his youth against a cool car so some people will recall a day when it was more logical to cast him in these types of films. Yeah, that's the ticket! That'll do it.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ klerplowie /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
So, this past weekend, I saw The Invisible and Next in the same evening. Probably not the best combination. A story about about a ghostly kid that must solve his own murder or die? Followed by a film about a guy who can see approximately two minutes into the future, unless the future involves Jessica Biehl, and then for some reason, he can see further. I probably should have paired it with In the Land of Women, but the time was overlapping. So, there I was.
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Um, no. That sort of overly folksy, like I really know each of my readers type of movie review isn't really my usual style. Sure, it's candid and sometimes its cute or funny, but I haven't noticed that must increased traffic to my site or any accolades coming my way or even the coveted admission into the online movie critics guild due to folksy reviews. Hmm. Well, how to start this review. It's hard because it was a really cool concept that was treated pretty well with a not well known director (Lee Tamahori) who should be more well known, I mean he did direct one of the James Bond movies after all which is no small potatoes, with a pretty unique cast, I mean who'd think of pairing Jessica Biehl and Nicholas Cage with her as his love interest being pursued by a tough nosed FBI agent named Callie Ferris played by Julianne Moore who, in my opinion got killed way to early in Children of Men (ooops I probably shouldn't give that away there are probably some people who haven't seen the film yet)…remember to strike that in the replay. Ok, so, hmm. Let's try that again!
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ klerplowie /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
A couple decades ago, probably not too many people had heard of Philip K. Dick. Yet, over the course of the past 20 years, Hollywood has had a minor love affair with the late sci-fi writer's work. He died in 1982 just as his Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? was being released as the now icon cult classic Harrison Ford film Blade Runner. Since then Total Recall, Minority Report, Paycheck, A Scanner Darkly, and now Next have been released starring some of Hollywood's biggest names from Affleck to Cruise to Schwarzenegger. Probably few people will disagree with the notion that (a) PKD's work has become more illustrious after his departure, nor (b) that Minority Report was probably and still is the best of the films in the list. Not only was the stunt casting of Tom Cruise more successful than some of the others, the story is absolutely mesmerizing in so many ways. One of PKD's common themes is a cold future without much hope or humanity and someone with the ability to add some light to the darkness, someone usually with some special reason to be able to do so or with the help of someone that can see the future. The cool and ironic thing about this is that sci-fi is all about predicting the future in the first place, and so many sci-fi writers have been right on the money begging the question are they seeing the future or creating a road map toward it? If people tell us we will fly rocket ships to the moon in a sci-fi story, do some of us read it and think, "Yeah, I'll build that!"? Well, that's mind-bending to think about, and yet the concept sort of plays a role in this latest PKD adaptation, Next. The idea is that Cris Johnson (Nicholas Cage), a two bit Vegas show magician who predicts the future in his act, really isn't acting.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ screech /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
I don't like the fact that you clicked the on the link to buy the DVD so quickly. What if I plant a picture of Jessica Biehl here? Yeah, she's in the movie. She's popular. That should keep you at movieEVERYday.com a bit longer. That should hold your interest. Ok, so sure, yes, let's be sure to put in a pic of Jessica. While we're at it, let's not forget to put in a pic of Julianne Moore also. First, she's one of those exceptional women who grows more and more beautifully irresistable as she ages (which she only ages about 1 month for every year). And, sure throw in a pic of Mr. Cage from his youth against a cool car so some people will recall a day when it was more logical to cast him in these types of films. Yeah, that's the ticket! That'll do it.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ klerplowie /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
So, this past weekend, I saw The Invisible and Next in the same evening. Probably not the best combination. A story about about a ghostly kid that must solve his own murder or die? Followed by a film about a guy who can see approximately two minutes into the future, unless the future involves Jessica Biehl, and then for some reason, he can see further. I probably should have paired it with In the Land of Women, but the time was overlapping. So, there I was.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ screech /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Um, no. That sort of overly folksy, like I really know each of my readers type of movie review isn't really my usual style. Sure, it's candid and sometimes its cute or funny, but I haven't noticed that must increased traffic to my site or any accolades coming my way or even the coveted admission into the online movie critics guild due to folksy reviews. Hmm. Well, how to start this review. It's hard because it was a really cool concept that was treated pretty well with a not well known director (Lee Tamahori) who should be more well known, I mean he did direct one of the James Bond movies after all which is no small potatoes, with a pretty unique cast, I mean who'd think of pairing Jessica Biehl and Nicholas Cage with her as his love interest being pursued by a tough nosed FBI agent named Callie Ferris played by Julianne Moore who, in my opinion got killed way to early in Children of Men (ooops I probably shouldn't give that away there are probably some people who haven't seen the film yet)…remember to strike that in the replay. Ok, so, hmm. Let's try that again!
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ klerplowie /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
A couple decades ago, probably not too many people had heard of Philip K. Dick. Yet, over the course of the past 20 years, Hollywood has had a minor love affair with the late sci-fi writer's work. He died in 1982 just as his Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? was being released as the now icon cult classic Harrison Ford film Blade Runner. Since then Total Recall, Minority Report, Paycheck, A Scanner Darkly, and now Next have been released starring some of Hollywood's biggest names from Affleck to Cruise to Schwarzenegger. Probably few people will disagree with the notion that (a) PKD's work has become more illustrious after his departure, nor (b) that Minority Report was probably and still is the best of the films in the list. Not only was the stunt casting of Tom Cruise more successful than some of the others, the story is absolutely mesmerizing in so many ways. One of PKD's common themes is a cold future without much hope or humanity and someone with the ability to add some light to the darkness, someone usually with some special reason to be able to do so or with the help of someone that can see the future. The cool and ironic thing about this is that sci-fi is all about predicting the future in the first place, and so many sci-fi writers have been right on the money begging the question are they seeing the future or creating a road map toward it? If people tell us we will fly rocket ships to the moon in a sci-fi story, do some of us read it and think, "Yeah, I'll build that!"? Well, that's mind-bending to think about, and yet the concept sort of plays a role in this latest PKD adaptation, Next. The idea is that Cris Johnson (Nicholas Cage), a two bit Vegas show magician who predicts the future in his act, really isn't acting.
Nicolas Cage Buy From Art.com
He really can see exactly two minutes into the future. Most of us who've ever contemplated the notion of having such an incredible gift have toyed with how we might go to Vegas and take advantage of a casino to win some big money. I mean, if you could see your cards two minutes in advance or the roulette wheel, etc. The possibilities seem endless. And, if you could see how the casino was going to react to your winning, and then change things like…your escape route, how many times in a row you won before you would get caught, your spot at the table in relation to the watchful cameras, etc. wow! Well, Cris, is not out to become a millionaire. He sees his ability as as much of a nightmare as a gift. So, he confines himself to a meager existence and showgirls. It's not a bad life. Things are fine until he starts seeing the future of himself going into a diner and meeting Liz (Jessica Biehl) for some reason and striking up a conversation with her, and perhaps falling in love. And, meanwhile, the FBI has information that someone has smuggled a dangerous device into the USA that could be used in LA to cause a catastrophe. One agent, Callie Ferris (Julianne Moore) who has seen Cris's act and doesn't believe it's an act, thinks he can help find it and stop the catastrophe. So is the set up for the film.
Julianne Moore Buy From Art.com
The cool part, though is watching all the various futures pan out as Cris plays with the future. He sees what's going to happen, and then he figures out what needs to be done to change it. In two minutes he can play with a lot of different outcomes until he findsthe one he likes the best. It's a compelling twist on the future is predestined as well as the future is what you make it concepts. There's a lot going on here which unfortunately gets a bit lost in all this FBI stuff—not sure if it was in the book this way or not but it seems unlikely. Hollywood has not been that faithful to Philip K. Dick's work, even major things were changed in Minority Report.
As for the review of this film itself, while not dependent on faithfulness to PKD's story, its pretty average in the end. Something about Hollywood's need to distract from the more impressive brainy parts of stories and substitute them with action sequences seems a thematic problem. Ironically, some of the biggest fans of written sci-fi are the very teenage males that Hollywood feels will only be attracted to explosive special effects and action sequences. Hardly, these guys get caught up in the relevance of the story and the grander meanings. Sure, action and mayhem are interesting, but they are cheap candy tossed in, the real victory is reaching the end after dealing with torrentially complicated issues. This audience deserves better. Lee Tamahori did an adequate job directing. Nicholas Cage continues his string of films, now seemingly endless where he plays a character with that signature 'clueless' expression and confused darting eyes. Recently, it has occurred to me that he's at his best when playing a highly dramatic character. The Family Man comes to mind. No one really appreciate him in this or the movie. I don't think he's the superhero type. It doesn't work. As for Jessica Biehl, she's got little to do in this role.
As for the review of this film itself, while not dependent on faithfulness to PKD's story, its pretty average in the end. Something about Hollywood's need to distract from the more impressive brainy parts of stories and substitute them with action sequences seems a thematic problem. Ironically, some of the biggest fans of written sci-fi are the very teenage males that Hollywood feels will only be attracted to explosive special effects and action sequences. Hardly, these guys get caught up in the relevance of the story and the grander meanings. Sure, action and mayhem are interesting, but they are cheap candy tossed in, the real victory is reaching the end after dealing with torrentially complicated issues. This audience deserves better. Lee Tamahori did an adequate job directing. Nicholas Cage continues his string of films, now seemingly endless where he plays a character with that signature 'clueless' expression and confused darting eyes. Recently, it has occurred to me that he's at his best when playing a highly dramatic character. The Family Man comes to mind. No one really appreciate him in this or the movie. I don't think he's the superhero type. It doesn't work. As for Jessica Biehl, she's got little to do in this role.
Jessica Biel Buy From Art.com
She's expanding her range, sure, but it's time to get her a lead in something where she can be really powerful. Julianne Moore is great in anything she does, but this role uses about 9% of her talent if that.
In the end, it's not difficult to see why the studio made no splash with the ad campaign for this film that probably seemed like a much better idea than it turned out despite the great writing 'team'. It will be interesting to see what future Philip K. Dick story Hollywood will take on next. Eventually, they are bound to score another Minority Report like success, but it may not be until the writers and directors realize that these stories are already incredible and just faithfully reproduce them without the need to update, make current, and stunt cast them with big names that distract from the core story.
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Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word review of this film]
Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word review of this film]
Other Projects Featuring Next (2007)
Cast Members
Nicolas Cage
• Julianne Moore • Jessica BielDirector
Lee Tamahori
Co-screenwriters
Gary Goldman
• Jonathan Hensleigh • Paul Bernbaum| Original Book | DVD | VHS |
Next (2007) Review-lite [150-word cap]
Hmm, I tried to write a short review for Next, and it didn't work. So, I apologize, you'll have to wade through the long one above. It's not too bad.
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