|
| The Forgotten | 
| Category: Movie
This item is no longer available
Avg. Customer Rating:  278 reviews
Sales Rank: 7288
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: Video On Demand
Running Time: 95 minutes
ASIN: B000T4349G
Theatrical Release Date: September 23, 2004
Release Date: November 25, 2008 (New: Last 30 Days)
|
| Customer Reviews:
 Forgotten - Forgets to Deliver... January 20, 2005
The review contains spoilers that might affect the potential cinematic experience. Thus, consider yourself warned before you continue to read the full review.
Forgotten opens with a number of very good shots where the camera seems to be floating high up in the air watching down on the city of New York and the people as if they were ants. These shots bring a nauseating experience if you suffer from fear of heights, as the camera ultimately lands in a playground where Telly Paretta (Julianne Moore) sits on a swing. Telly appears to be deep into her thoughts as she moves from the playground to a child's room in her home where she begins to fondle a baseball glove as if she tries to remember something. Consequently, the audience finds out that she has lost her son, Sam, about 14 months earlier in a plane crash.
Shortly after the opening, the film gets into a similar theme to Michel Gondry's Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind (2004), which focuses on the element of voluntary amnesia in cases of painful memories. In Forgotten everyone else, except Telly, seems to suffer from amnesia, as she is the only one that remembers her son. The people close to her believe that she suffers from severe delusions and is slightly psychotic, as she acts as if she has created a memory from having a still-borne child.
In panic, Telly flees her persecutors, and begins to investigate Sam's plane crash. Telly discovers that all the news in regards to her son's accident is suddenly gone. In search for some conformation of her son's existence Telly bumps into another parent, Ash Correll (Dominic West), who she recalls also lost a child in the same accident. Ash does not seem to recognize her, but Telly remains persistent as he somehow finds out that he once had a daughter. Together Telly and Ash embark on troublesome journey to uncover the truth in regards to their children, as an unknown enemy seems to pull the strings from a high place--pun intended.
The film initially sets up with an interesting plot with amnesia and psychological suspense. However, it quickly turns into a quagmire as the film turns into a bad episode of the TV series X-Files. Many of the ideas are never completed and instead of completing a notion it jumps a new thought, which convolutes the cinematic experience. On occasion, Forgotten shines with remarkable effects, good cinematography, and great possibility. In addition, Julianne Moore offers, as usual, a solid performance. But it does not save the film, as it never come close to cinematic greatness, as the audience will feel that it might best be forgotten.
Julianne Moore hopefully won't be 'Forgotten' January 20, 2005
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
The Forgotten would probably be easily forgotten if it wasn't for the acting ability of Julianne Moore portraying the grieving mother Telly Paretta. Telly refuses to believe she has a psychological problem and that she is sane. Julianne Moore portrays the role perfectly of a mother grieving over the loss of her son Sam (Christopher Kovaleski).
Fourteen months and 6 days have elapsed since Sam and a group of children disappear on a Questair flight to summer camp. Strange things start to happen with pictures and videos of Sam coming up blank. Telly has an altercation with her husband Jim (Anthony Edwards) and they end up meeting with her psychologist Dr. Jack Munce (Gary Sinise). Dr. Jack Munce and Jim explain to Telly that she has been delusional for a decade and that she never had a son.
Telly seeks out Ash Correll who had a daughter that disappeared on the same flight as Sam. Telly is able to validate her story by uncovering the walls in Ash Corrells' office but he still refuses to admit that he had a daughter. Ash calls the police and Telly is escorted away, only to be taken into custody by NSA agents. The feeling of conspiracy starts filtering into my mind at this point. Ash suddenly remembers that he did have a daughter, running out and getting into a scuffle with the Feds. Ash is able to free Telly and get away himself. Once Telly has outrun the Fed and takes a breather, she looks up at the sky and has a vision of the clouds being a spaceship.
The movie takes a twist at this time and sci-fi effects are literally jolted at you. A mysterious man (played by Linus Roache) also keeps popping up and seems to be indestructible. Some nice special effects will definitely wake you up if you've fell asleep at this point.
Telly never forgets her son which leads to the end of this `experiment'....
The movie has its share of action and never gets away from the emotional grabber. The heart of this movie is the undeniable love of a mother for her child. The story line is only half -baked if you are looking for a sci-fi thriller. On a 5 star basis I'd give this movie a 3 star rating.
 Going out on a limb..... January 20, 2005
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
THE FORGOTTEN has as many mixed reviews as about any movie of the last season and for folks who like to feel secure about plot lines from beginning to end, that disparity of response is warranted. But for the casual viewer who just picks up this DVD to view because something (the cast, the graphics, the tone) appealed, this is a fine little thriller that engages your interest and your compassion and ultimately your mind.
It has been 14 months since an airplane with five Brooklyn children went down at sea and Telly (the always impressive Julianne Moore) is still grieving for her lost 9-year-old son Sam. She savors photographs, memories (in flashback sequences which are about as tender as mother/son relationships have been pictured), and yet cannot let go and move on. Her husband (Anthony Edwards) is supportive as is her psychiatrist (Gary Sinise), but gradually Telly discovers that photographs and memorabilia of her son Sam have been altered or have disappeared. Confrontation with her husband results in her being told that she never had a son, that she is delusional, and all of her support systems vanish. Convinced she is right she encounters Ash (Dominic West) who, though now a drunk, was 'apparently' the single father of Sam's best friend Lauren, although on the surface he denies ever having a child. Telly finds ways to convince Ash to remember and together they set out on a string of events that leads to occult questions about 'The Experiment' that is apparently known to the FBI (among them Lee Tergesen) but has not convinced the local law enforcement (Alfre Woodward). Odd creature signs appear (in the character of the alien-like Linus Roache), and Telly and Ash are on the run, determined that their children are alive, and in the end the quest of the 'experiment' to discover the particular bond between mother (or father) and child is strained to the bizarre conclusion.
The script by Gerald DiPege and the direction by Joseph Ruben work well in synchrony and though the story may offend viewers who disdain the possibility of life outside the earth's surface, the amount of emphasis on parent/child relationships far outweighs the potential hokiness of the manner in which that aspect of the film is challenged. Julianne Moore, Dominic West, Alfre Woodward, and Gary Sinise give excellent performances (along with a superb supporting cast) and the commitment these actors display makes the movie solid. Ease up on credibility issues, go out on a limb, and take this flight of fantasy as a means to explore larger issues and you'll find this film has more merit than you would expect. Grady Harp, January 2005
 Intense psychological thriller with some nice twists January 19, 2005
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
What if everything you knew began to slip away like a fading memory? The premise of The Forgotten seems like its out of The X-Files territory. Telly Paretta (Julianne Moore) is in therapy trying to come to grips with the loss of her 9 year old son in a plane crash. Fourteen months have passed and she still feels his presence vividly expecting him to walk through the door. While visiting her therapist (Gary Sinise) she discusses her sense of loss and her inability to move on. Later, she discusses her son again and he tells her she never had one.
They never discussed him. That she's having a delusion and creating an imaginary son to help her deal with other issues. When she discusses this with her husband (Anthony Edwards) he echoes her psychiatrist; they never had a son. Suddenly, photos that she was familiar with featuring her son begin disappearing replaced with others featuring only her and the husband.
Then how can her memories be so vivid? How can she still smell his hair, remember the texture of his skin, the color of his eyes, the day he first walked? How can she create a life that never was? There's no evidence he existed even the photos that she looked at the day before that had the three of them together now shows only Telly and her husband. Telly's conviction carries her on a search for her son that she knows in her heart exists. Telly discovers a series of frightening truths along this journey and that she doesn't need to take the journey alone.
A disturbing suspense thriller that takes a number of unexpected twists and turns, The Forgotten has something that most thrillers lack-heart and soul. Julianne Moore's powerful performance anchors even the most incredible scenes in the movie. It's her performance that holds the film together even as it threatens to fly apart. With a strong, memorable supporting cast The Forgotten will stay with you as will the questions that it asks. If you're looking for a clearer solution to the story's mystery, I'd suggest watching the extended version that didn't play in theaters. It paints the conclusion with more solid colors although there's much that isn't explained. That's just as well as the best suspense thrillers always leave some loose ends. For those who want a conclusion that's less clear cut, I'd suggest watching the theatrical cut. Both have their merits and both work extremely well but the inclusion of a couple of scenes might make the difference between accepting the conclusion of the film or not.
As I mentioned previously the DVD sports two versions of the film and the extended cut with the alternate ending provides a great extra for fans that want to experience a slightly different version of the film. The extended ending really consists of one sequence that pushes home the conclusion of the film a bit more aggressively and leaves the conclusion a bit less nebulous than the theatrical cut. Both versions have their merits. We also get a short documentary on the making of the film beginning with the germ of the idea and how it occurred to writer Gerald DiPego and how he developed it to the involvement of Julianne Moore and director Joseph Ruben. Many of the behind-the-scenes production talent appear in this documentary discussing the development of the project. The featurette on the making of the film provides glimpses behind-the-scenes on the making of the film with sound bites featuring the main cast discussing their roles and what attracted them to the project in the first place. Both are done exceptionally well and make up for a lack of additional extras on the optical effects used for the film. We also get deleted scenes many of which did not end up in either version of the film.
A gripping thriller that will have you guessing about the fate of the various characters in the film The Forgotten isn't likely to be a memory that'll fade away like an old photograph. The rich performances particularly by Julianne Moore, Gary Sinise, Anthony Edwards, Dominic West and Alfre Woodard ground the film in a sense of reality just as Telly's world appears to depart from it. Well directed with an intelligent script that doesn't take any short cuts, The Forgotten will linger with you like the memory of your first date or seeing the first steps your child takes. Some things can't be forgotten or taken away and the rich themes at the heart of this film will make that very clear. If you're someone looking for clear cut resolutions, you may want to watch the extended version and rent before buying. If it appeals to you, I guarantee you'll come back to it again and again. That might make it a worthwhile purchase for you.
Is it Amnesia, Projected Suggestion, or Alien Abduction? January 19, 2005
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
There are clues laced throughout this para-normal mind-bender that invoke many questions and possible explanations as to what is happening. I rented this film with the only expectation being that it will probably be something along the lines of an "X Files" episode with Julianne Moore in the title role. Just from the packaging I was reminded of another film, "The Mothman Prophecies," that eerily has more than a few things in common with "The Forgotten." By the end of the film I was also comparing it to another film called "Dark City." I liked both of those films, and the "X Files," so it is really no surprise that I went along for the ride on this one as well. There is a mystery to be solved with potential for altering perceptions about our place in the world, or perhaps it is just a showcase for how exquisitely bizarre the workings of the human mind really are. I enjoyed this mystery tour enough to follow along and be eventually rewarded for my participation. What sets this film apart from the rest in its genre is that there are some real people at the center of the story, ones that are easy to relate to and worth caring about. Julianne Moore carries the film on her small shoulders with great depth of character and obviously affecting the performances of all that come into contact with her immense talent. On the DVD there is a second, alternate ending that is clearly not the better choice; but there is one of the deleted scenes that should have been included in the final cut because I was wondering by film's end what happened to that particular character, and it would have tied up that loose end neatly. The theatrical release ending is more ominous while the alternate is much lighter and less provocative. There are some slow, even bewildering moments, but the payoff in the end is worth the journey. Recommended.
|
|
|
Wildlife, nature and the Environment
Sponsored Links
Learn how to get your own Amazon Book shop | |
