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 PAYCHECK.
DVD. Sci-fi/thriller. 118 minutes. PG-13.
Michael Jennings (Ben Affleck) is a computer engineer who designs
and builds top secret projects for huge corporations, then has his memory
erased to protect the secrecy of the project. After a three year job,
Michael once again has his memory erased, but is stunned to realize that
right before the memory erase procedure, he forfeited his $92 million
paycheck. With the FBI and an assassin hot on his trail, Michael’s only
hope is an envelope stuffed with 20 everyday, common trinkets he mailed to
himself before his memory was erased.
I
watched this movie for two reasons: 1) I like a lot of director John
Woo’s past movies (Hard-Bioled, Face Off). 2) Ben Affleck’s cute ass.
OK, so I watched Paycheck for only one reason, I’ll let you figure out
which of the two is the real reason. I found Paycheck’s storyline (based
on a Phillip K. Dick short story) a bit sluggish, but Woo’s action
sequences help move the plot along. Co-star Paul Giamatti
adds some refreshing comic relief, but his character isn’t around enough. Aaron Eckhart, who played perhaps one of the greatest movie pricks in
1997’s In the Company of
Men, fails to shine his evil sunshine like he’s capable of. Then
there’s romantic interest Uma Thurman. You know, I simply just can not
figure out if she’s good looking or not! As far as Ben Affleck and his
ass, well, he’s Ben Affleck and he does a good enough job without
drawing any unwarranted attention to himself. People seem to have a hard
time liking Mr. Affleck and I fail to understand why. After all, you never
read or hear anything negative about the guy, only crap about him having a
good time; gambling, drinking, spending his money, and his relationship
with Jennifer Lopez. The DVD includes a bevy of extras, but I didn’t
watch any of them due to disinterest. Now, do I feel that I wasted 118
minutes of my life watching Paycheck? No. However, I will not be
recommending this movie to anyone any time soon, or ever for that matter.
– Denis Sheehan
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