despite both movies being based on stories by the same author.
Part of the reason that Paycheck doesn't work is that there really isn't a good reason for the evil ACME corporation (humour intended) to regularly erase Jennings's (Affleck) memory. If only Jennings and one other person knew about his work then it might be logical to go to such extremes. However, when a gaggle of corporate honchos are witness to his work what's the difference if he knows what he's done or not. The lack of a compelling reason to sap synapses makes the film's momentary reflection on a life with serious memory gaps almost pointless and certainly less meaningful.
This is the essence of the second problem with Paycheck. The moral consequences of Jennings work is a mere excuse for an action movie as opposed to the raison d'être of the film. Indeed, we don't even find out what Jennings's created during three years of isolation until 3/4 of the way through the film. By that time Paycheck is in full action movie mode and barely stops long enough to insert the compulsory "gee, this may not be such a good idea after all" scene.
This may all have been excusable if Paycheck was truly a thriller but its not. The movie may have succeeded if it had started at the end and worked backwards like they did in Momento. But, having chosen to proceed in such a straight ahead manner the film's intensity level is only slightly more exciting than driving across the prairies. The fact that the mild mannered Jennings cheats death, repeatedly, by impersonating McGuyver does little to get your pulse racing either.
John Woo also appears to be unable to infuse Paycheck with any energy. I thought I'd was going to vomit if I saw another scene of the lone symbolic dove and his use of split screens etc., is just plain annoying. The performances are also nothing to write home about. That's mostly because the characters, like the story's moral dilemma, are a means to find excuses for chase scenes.
Don't be confused by Paycheck's December release this is just a very average summer flick.
Running time - 110 minutes
Check out my TOP 10 MOVIES OF 2003 & WORST MOVIES OF 2003 lists.
Alternative Reviews:
Roger Ebert's Review
Peter Travers / Rolling Stone Review
Rotten Tomatoes Reviews
Paycheck Official Web Site
