SCI FI PI

Available on DVD and HD DVD
Released Jan 10
Starring Nicolas Cage, Jessica Biel, Julianne Moore
Directed By Lee Tamahori

Created from the bones of a Philip K.Dick short story, The Golden Man, Next is the story of Cris Johnson (Nic Cage), ostensibly a two-bit magician in Las Vegas. Secretly however, he is hiding in plain sight - he has the magical ability to see into the future - but only two minutes into the future, and only two minutes into his own future.

Sounds lame, as far as precognition goes, but it's the kernel for a hell of an action ride.

Apart from his gift, he's an ordinary man, with only one real goal - to meet the girl of his dreams - he knows he'll meet her, and when, just not which day. So each day he turns up to the same old diner, until, of course, in walks Jessica Biel.

However, when a film includes nuclear blasts trains crashing into cars and massive gun battles, you know it's not your typical boy-meets-girls scenario.

Johnson becomes stuck between super-cool terrorists and dogged CIA agent Julianne Moore in a race against time before a major nuclear detonation.





There's a lot of action cliches that ensue, but the central tenet of the 'two minutes' really does give the film a twist, and gives real scope to the CGI guys who can show what happens in multiple futures and multiple pathways. However - strong scrutiny is not something that the logic of this film can stand. It's best you just relax and let the action take you for a ride. When you have the likes of Jessica Biel falling in love with Nic (and his crazy, Ebayable hair) you know that suspension of disbelief is required.

Whilst there are quite a few physicists (not to mention the Vulcan Science Council) who proclaim the impossibility of time travel, that's not going to stop Hollywood - just because something's impossible doesn't mean you can't make a movie out of it. Director Lee Tamahori applies the same kind of sensibility as was used in Die Another Day; heavy action, but with a light touch.

The best description of the gift that character Cris Johnson has in Next, is like playing a video game, where you get to walk through two minutes of the level before you actually have to do it. So you find out the best way to deal with a situation, eventually, no matter how many times you die (as long as you die before your actual future death - no, don't think about it too hard, you'll get a headache).

Those who know about Heisenberg, Schroedinger and his damned cat and the infinite worlds theory will have a real problem with someone choosing a single future from a multiple array of possible futures. But will they want to see lots of things blow up?





Special Features:

Making the Next Big Thing
Lots of talking heads from the usual junket interviews. Gary Goldman wrote Minority Report and he has a good old yack. The notable absence of Lee Tamahori (apart from a quick discussion about him and footage of him working somewhat disconcerting. Usual sales video stuff.

Visualizing the Next Move
The film contains a very nice nuclear explosion and a monster amounts of effects - this is a nice look at the engine room of the effects that make the modern giant Hollywood action flick. It's also interesting to see the marriage of live action and effects, and just how silly actors look without the CGI 'danger'.

The Next 'Grand Idea'
Grand? As in Grand Canyon? OK! Here's a look at the Indian Reservation in the Grand Canyon that features in the film.

Two minutes in the future with Jessica Biel
An interview with Jessica about looking into the future. She thinks it would be 'cool'. What happens when you try to take stupid questions seriously.