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The Forgotten
Don't forget to watch it... at matinee price that is.

Starring: Blanchard Ryan, Daniel Travis, Saul Stein, Estelle Lau, Jon-Damon Charles
Director: Joseph Ruben
Screenwriter: Gerald Di Pego

Reviewed by Dawn Capp

Don't bother seeing The Forgotten. You already know everything you need to from the previews. This film has high aspirations with dark cinematography, a stellar cast, and seat-jarring surprises. However, the film falls short of its potential. It moves a little too slowly and its fundamental premise is far-fetched and borderline absurd, not so much because of who or what is responsible for the fantastic events, but because their motives and reasoning are barely worthy of B-movie villains. On the other hand, The Forgotten is still better than most of the films that have hit the screen this year, so it's probably worth the price of a matinee or, if you're inclined to wait, a DVD rental.

In this dark film, Julianne Moore does a respectable job of playing Telly Paretta, a grieving mother who seems incapable of getting over the loss of her young son. She spends her days reviewing old family tapes and peering at her deceased son's face in aging photographs. One day, however, all the photos are gone, and the tapes that once showed her laughing, beautiful boy are filled with only fuzz. No one seems to remember that she ever had a son, and all documents that could prove his existence have vanished.

With everyone thinking she's crazy and threatening to place her in an institution, she goes on the run, determined to prove her son existed. Soon, federal agents are after her, and she doesn't quite know why. She enlists the help of an old friend whose daughter was also 'erased' and, together, they try to uncover the truth while outmaneuvering national security agents.

The film's cinematography reflects the misery of the characters. Every day is overcast and dim. There are no colorful flowers are bright blue skies, except in her memories. Ominous breezes spring out of the blue far too often, and even the clouds morph into threatening shapes.

The Forgotten's ending disappoints. Such a vast and troublesome conspiracy deserves an equally awe-inspiring explanation. Instead, the movie resorts to cheesy science perpetrated by... Well, you'll have to watch the movie to discover that bit of information, but suffice it to say, the how and the why of who's doing what will likely leave you shaking your head and wondering how anyone or anything with such vast abilities could be so simple-minded.

Simple-minded? Hmmm. Sounds like Hollywood script-writers. Well, there's one mystery solved.

Rating:

(2 1/2 out of 4 stars)

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