DVD Review of Knowing With Nicolas Cage

Alex Proyas Special Effects Thriller Includes Two Featurettes

Jul 11, 2009

In addition to commentary, the new Knowing DVD contains short features about the making of the film and views of the Apocalypse.

As in the sci-fi thriller Next, Nicolas Cage again stars in a special effects action movie in which his character has knowledge of events before they happen. This time, however, his power resides in his intellect rather than his paranormal abilities.

Nicolas Cage Stars as Astrophysicist Professor

In 1959, at a small elementary school in Massachusetts, a strange little girl named Lucinda (Lara Robinson) suggests that her school prepare a time capsule to be opened 50 years in the future. Instead of drawing the required picture, she writes down a long list of numbers while listening to creepy whispers in her head. This incident begins the film and sets the stage for 2009 when Professor John Koestler (Cage) attends the 50-year anniversary at his son Caleb’s (Chandler Canterbury) elementary school.

Caleb gets Lucinda’s message, and John determines that the numbers are linked to various global catastrophes that little Lucinda couldn’t possibly have predicted. When he applies science to his theory of the numbers, it falls apart. Yet John has been a nonbeliever in religion since his wife died in a disastrous fire at a hotel. He struggles with scientific and religious concepts including a predetermined destiny, an omniscient God, life on other planets, and randomness in the universe because of his recent tragedy and his upbringing with a pastor for a father. When John contacts Lucinda’s grown daughter (Rose Byrne of Troy) for help in deciphering the number sequences, his parental duties also become part of his inner turmoil.

The story starts out as exciting science fiction, but seems to lose its way somewhere in the middle of the film. As John relinquishes his self-control, the film also turns somewhat frantic – grasping for answers, dropping false clues, and offering meaningless gestures.

While the sound, music, and other technical credits get the job done, one consistently outstanding element of the film is the special effects. These terrifying crashes and doomsday scenes dazzled on the big screen and will rivet audiences watching the DVD as well. While the story may spark debates among some viewers, there’s no debate about these effects: Director Alex Proyas (I, Robot) delivers state-of-the-art terror in these scenes of destruction.

In addition to an audio commentary with the director, this DVD package includes two featurettes. “Knowing All: The Making of a Futuristic Thriller” focuses on creating the special effects for some of the breathtaking scenes in the film including massive crashes, blazing fires, and crowded scenes of chaos. The story itself is virtually ignored in this segment, instead leaving the subjects of randomness versus predictable patterns in the universe to the viewer’s imagination. How they chose the actors – a frequent feature among DVD bonus packages – is not included (and not missed).

The other featurette, “Visions of the Apocalypse,” consults professors and psychologists about doomsday theories. Using clips from the movie and historical art, the short documentary discusses religious themes, scientific theories, mass hysteria, and other apocalyptic manifestations within societies. Though not directly related to filmmaking, this informative feature directly relates to the subject of Knowing and makes an interesting addition to the DVD.

The copyright of the article DVD Review of Knowing With Nicolas Cage in Sci-Fi/Fantasy Films is owned by Leslie C. Halpern. Permission to republish DVD Review of Knowing With Nicolas Cage in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.