REELGUY’S DVD REVIEW: “Knowing”: The monotony of bad science fiction continues

There was a time when the next Nicolas Cage film was much anticipated. That time is long gone. The only way I can explain his movie choices for the last decade is that Cage is caught in some sort of a time loop, remaking the same bad science fiction movie over and over again. His latest entry, “Knowing,” is more of the same bland performance, this time in an unremarkable end-of-the-world picture. In the capable hands of outside-the-mainstream director, Alex Proyas (“I, Robot”), I had reason to believe “Knowing” might exceed my low expectations. After watching the movie on DVD, my worst fears were realized as the monotony of bad Cage science-fiction continues.

Cage is Professor John Koestler, an academic who suffered through a recent tragedy and is left raising his young son alone. The boy, Caleb, is given a letter from the past after his school opens a time capsule from 50 years ago. In the letter are a series of numbers, predicting major disasters for the last half century. Once Professor Koestler discovers this creepy prognostication, he seeks out the writer of the message. Finding the writer’s adult daughter, Diana (Rose Byrne; “28 Weeks Later”), the two of them try to discover a way to protect their families from the oncoming disasters.

The otherwise-talented Proyas creates a snail-paced thriller with “Knowing,” building little tension in the lead up to the next disasters. There are moments of occasional spectacle when the disasters actually occur but no emotional impact is felt from the human casualties. Koestler ineffectively tries to warn people of the destruction, becoming rather inarticulate when he most needs to enunciate his theories. Cage is unable to create a believable connection between the boy actor and himself. On the beats in the film when you would expect to feel pangs of heartbreak, there is a dull thud of disinterest instead. Proyas creates some tension from the insertion of “strangers” who try and take the children. While they are scary, they feel too much like recycled versions of the monsters from Proyas’s own (far superior) “Dark City.”

The movie wants to be a thriller, a heart-breaking drama, and thought-provoking science fiction but does not effectively do any of them. “Knowing” comes closest to being pensive sci-fi but the viewer is frustratingly kept out of the discovery process. Instead of figuring the mystery out with Professor Koestler, you are repeatedly told what to know when you need to know it. The film reminded me of “The Day the Earth Stood Still”; specifically the Keanu Reeves re-make. That is not meant to be a compliment to either film; eliciting the question whether Hollywood is capable of making thought-provoking, entertaining science-fiction any more.

Rated PG-13 for disaster sequences, disturbing images and brief strong language.