Paycheck **** (2003, Ben Affleck, Uma Thurman, Aaron Eckhart, Colm Feore) – Classic Movie Review 1721

Ben Affleck erases memories of his 2003 turkey Gigli with his mind-blowing turn as Michael Jennings, a high-tech reverse engineer hunted by an evil corporation, in director John Woo’s dazzlingly smart and stylish 2003 sci-fi action thriller.

Instead of earning $90 million for his latest top-secret job, Affleck ends up with no memory and an envelope containing 20 everyday objects. These, and feisty heroine Uma Thurman (his girlfriend before the memory erasure), could be his survival kit from his deadly ex-employers, Aaron Eckhart and Colm Feore.

Philip (Minority Report) K Dick’s brainy yarn picks up the pace as it twists along, taking in several heart-stopping action sequences along the way, including a great motorbike chase, as it heads for an explosive finish. A memorable movie and a bit of a design classic, thanks to William Sandell’s super, sleek sets and Jeffrey L Kimball’s gleaming cinematography.

Paul Giamatti (Shorty), Joe Morton (Agent Dodge), Michael C. Hall (Agent Klein) and Peter Friedman (Attorney General Brown) co-star.

John Woo is also the director of Hard Target (1992), Broken Arrow (1996), Face/Off, Mission: Impossible II and Windtalkers (2002).

http://derekwinnert.com/gigli-so-bad-its-good-movie-3/

http://derekwinnert.com/faceoff-classic-film-review-598/

http://derekwinnert.com/mission-impossible-ii-tom-cruise-dougray-scott-thandie-newton-classic-movie-review-1290/

http://derekwinnert.com/windtalkers-nicolas-cage-christian-slater-adam-beach-classic-film-review-1218/

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 1721

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com/