Movie: Awake (R)
Released: November 30th, 2007
Runtime: 1 hr. 18 min.
Ticket Price: Free Matinee
Refreshments: Red Vines
Starring: Hayden Christensen, Jessica Alba, Terrence Howard & Lena Olin
Director: Joby Harold

Rating: Worth a Rental

Synopsis: A rich man becomes aware during surgery, yet is paralyzed to the extent that he cannot communicate with the doctors about what is happening. While this is going on, the man’s wife is dealing with her own set of problems.

Review: Awake is a semi-engaging, yet mostly predictable, attempt at a psychological thriller, as there is not much psychology or thrills to be had. A review of this type of movie is always difficult, even though you will probably see most things coming, on the outside chance that you don’t, we don’t want to give too much away.

On the good side of things, was the performance of Lena Olin (TV’s Alias), as the mother of Hayden Christensen’s Clay Beresford, the man that goes under the knife for a heart transplant. Olin’s performance reminds you why season two of Alias was so great. She commands your attention when she is on screen. Also, Terrence Howard, as the transplant surgeon is great, in an understated performance. The guy is just good.

On the other side of things, pretty much anyone could have played Clay in as a convincing manor as found here, but since a lot of the acting is done via voiceover, someone better skilled at conveying emotion via narration might have been a better choice.

The movie’s runtime is quite short, but that is probably a good thing for the most part. If it had gone too much longer, Clay might have been the only one in the theater that was awake. Although, maybe a couple minutes longer would have been good. Then they could have given you a better wrap up, as opposed to the bookend shot it ends on, cause you kind of feel that it shouldn’t be over yet. You need more than a sentence of closure.

Overall, you should wait for the rental. The runtime and predictable-ness make it not worth even the matinee ticket price at your local theater.

What did you think of Awake?