Movies

Next Review

Kris Johnson (Nicholas Cage) is a magician in a two-bit act in a Las Vegas Casino, who has the ability to see two minutes into the future. He uses his ‘skill’ to be a magician and to beat casinos at blackjack. He is pursued by the FBI, who wants his help in tracking a group that is trying to smuggle a nuclear weapon into the USA. The group that is trying to smuggle it in is also after him, to silence him and whatever he might know. Along the way he meets Liz (Jessica Biel) who befriends him and they take off into the US Southwest.

 

He is captured by the FBI and reluctantly agrees to help them, as the terrorists have kidnapped Liz, in an effort to draw him out. This leads him to Los Angeles, where radiological sensors indicate the bomb already is. The movie is full of interesting special effects and twists on how he uses his power to avoid getting killed or injured.

 

Philip K. Dick has been the inspiration for many movies from big hits like Blade Runner, Total Recall, and Minority Report, to box office bombs like Screamers and Paycheck. His story, “The Golden Man” is the basis for Next.

 

I won’t ruin the movie by telling you how it ends, but I left the theatre feeling ripped off, simply because the ending is exactly what writers are told NEVER to write. I didn’t expect it, but it was disappointing nonetheless. However, until the ending, the movie is quite good, with humour, action, and clever dialogue throughout.