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Next
Stars: Nicolas Cage, Julianne Moore, Jessica Biel, Thomas Kretschmann, Tory Kittle, Peter Falk, Jose Zuniga
Director: Lee Tamahori
Some reviewers find it near impossible to accept that some movies are aimed at moviegoers, not them. That contingent was out in force for the press show of this unashamed slice of science fiction twaddle, demonstrating their superiority to the material by laughing loudly to impress themselves and their peers.
My guess is that nobody, least of all those involved on both sides of the camera, would claim Next is anything more than a multiplex-aimed thriller which, on its own simplistic terms, offers slick, often silly but enjoyably fast-moving thrills and action, centred on Cages small-time Las Vegas magician whose ability to see a couple of minutes into his own future changing that future in the process has FBI counter-terrorist agent Moore out to recruit him to save LA from the terrorists out to set off a nuclear device in the city.
Tamahori, working from a screenplay based on cult sci-fi writer Philip K Dick (Blade Runner, Minority Report) gets the show on the road right away with a lively car chase and maintains a fast and furious pace so that the storys manifest, sometimes downright daft implausibilities only really sink in after the movie ends. Result adequately acted, easily entertaining and easier to forget audience-friendly hokum.
Alan Frank
USA 2007. UK Distributor: Entertainment. Colour.
96 minutes. Widescreen. UK certificate: 12A.
Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 0, Violence/Horror 1, Drugs 0, Swearing 1.
Review date: 27 Apr 2007