Cast Julianne Moore (Telly Paretta), Christopher Kovaleski (Sam), Matthew Pleszewicz (Sam at 5),
Anthony Edwards (Jim Paretta),
Jessica Hecht (Eliot), Gary Sinise (Dr. Jack Munce), Dominic West (Ash Correll)
Director: Joseph Ruben
The story: Julianne Moore has lost her son. No, not one of those “where is my son” things, but a plane accident. And since that happened, thirteen months ago, she hasn't been able to lead a normal life. Psychologists and medications, and that permanent memory of her son saying goodbye is making it impossible for her. But there comes a moment of rupture, when psychologists tell her that... her son never existed! Nobody, not even her husband, seems to remember him, at least. Is she totally insane, losing her power to differentiate reality from fiction and what has really happened from what the power of her imagination is creating or is something a lot more powerful behind this story?
That's the beginning of this movie. In time, Moore will find the father of a little girl, friend of her son, that also seems, after a few moments of doubt, remember what to everybody is just a product of a sick imagination. And a cop that is ready to believe. Not to mention a couple of federal agents that are looking for her and a man who seems to be able to recover quite nicely an encounter of the first type with a speeding bullet. And, somewhere between all that, her son is waiting. And the same is doing one of those dumb Hollywood endings that ruin movies.
The Good Points: The first half of the movie works really well, with what appears to be an interesting observation of the human behaviour under circumstances that are totally uncommon, the works of a mind that is suddenly faced with the idea of being absolutely wrong about everything that has been believed for a long time.
The Bad Points: Sadly, the first half of the movie ends before the movie does (as it is usual to happen, actually). Then it turns from an interesting movie about a mother in a situation where all her love may have been torn from her life, to a pretty dumb and slightly obvious science fiction movie. That's when the abductions (with special effects that are quite amazing) start to happen and we start to realize that there's someone dark behind what's going on... and it's not from this world.
Another bad point is the way that Moore only seems to be able to show her “desperation” by screaming the name of her son. Gets pretty annoying pretty soon. And the director loses many chances of creating a powerful reaction on the viewer by cutting scenes that could have been really strong. As an example, when the first abduction takes place, the director never bothers to show Moore and West's reaction to this success, which was, to say the least, uncommon.
And don't make me start with the end. This movie totally blows it when the “live happily after” end happens. And it has a perfect moment for a dark and sad and not so stupidly common end, but doesn't take the chance and decides (the writer) to give us all hopes and a feeling that the bond between a mother and a son is the stronger thing to happen. God, I may throw up after that. Especially because the “happy ending” and how it happens doesn't even make sense!
Greatest Moment: As I said, the abductions are really well done, and the first one will make you jump from your seat. The rest are pretty obvious but still manage to work. And another nice moment is when Moore's husband fails to recognise her.
Stupidest Moment: The end. Just like that. THE END
All in All: X-files was great. This movie is not X-files. Still, it can be watched without having serious health problems.