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Paycheck

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Paycheck (2003)

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Reviews Counted:138

Fresh:37

Rotten:101

Average Rating:4.7/10

Consensus: Though Dick's short story has an intriguing premise, Woo reduces it to a lot of meaningless chases, shoot-outs, and explosions.

Runtime: 1 hr 58 mins

Genre: Action/Adventure

US Box Office: $53,681,119

Synopsis: Adapted from a mind-bending sci-fi thriller by Philip K. Dick, the slick and riveting PAYCHECK is directed by John Woo (THE KILLER, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE II)--the king of artful gunfighting... Adapted from a mind-bending sci-fi thriller by Philip K. Dick, the slick and riveting PAYCHECK is directed by John Woo (THE KILLER, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE II)--the king of artful gunfighting flicks--who shows off his agility here with flat-out, white-knuckle cinematic entertainment. Michael Jennings (Ben Affleck) is a high-paid engineer who works on hush-hush computer inventions and technology for shady companies. Later, his memory is wiped clean, so he has no recollection of his work. His so-called friend Rethrick (Aaron Eckhardt, the master of smarmy mean-spiritedness, as in IN THE COMPANY OF MEN) offers him enough money to retire by working on a project at Rethrick's company, Allcom. When Jennings emerges three years later, sans memory, he tries to collect his paycheck. At the bank, he's handed a manila envelope filled with cryptic items he doesn't recognize, and told he voluntarily forfeited his entire paycheck. He also has a stunning girlfriend named Dr. Rachel Porter (Uma Thurman) who is likewise ensnared in the conspiracy. Jennings must somehow piece together the clues he left for himself, and find out why everyone is out to kill him. As usual, Dick's story is the basis for a killer script that travels from point A to Z with gripping immediacy. The clues left for Jennings are amusing writerly devices, intricately pieced together. Woo clearly enjoyed choreographing the wild gunfighting and chase sequences (slo-mo bullets aplenty), sending Affleck and Thurman on the run with a BMW motorcycle. [More]

Starring: Ben Affleck, Aaron Eckhart, Uma Thurman, Paul Giamatti

Starring: Ben Affleck, Aaron Eckhart, Uma Thurman, Paul Giamatti, Colm Feore, John Morton, Michael C. Hall

Director: John Woo

Director: John Woo
Screenwriter: Dean Georgaris
Producer: John Davis, Michael Hackett, John Woo, Terence Chang
Composer: John Powell
Studio: Paramount Pictures

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Reviews for Paycheck

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1 - 20 (sorted by critic A-Z; Australian critics are listed first)
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Full Review Source: Dark Horizons | comment Comment
03/14/05
Garth Franklin
Garth Franklin
Dark Horizons
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: In Film Australia | comment Comment
03/24/04
Luke Buckmaster
Luke Buckmaster
In Film Australia
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
10/18/08
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile
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Acting is hard to do. Watch Affleck try it and barely make a go of it.

Full Review Source: FilmsInReview.com | comment Comment
12/23/03
Victoria Alexander
Victoria Alexander
FilmsInReview.com

What's the problem? Ben Affleck is perfectly believable as a guy who spends two hours confused and with a dazed look on his face.

Full Review Source: Denton Record Chronicle (TX) | comment Comment
12/31/03
Boo Allen
Boo Allen
Denton Record Chronicle (TX)

Seems like yet another job for hire for the great filmmaker, but one with a strong enough story to sustain our interest for two hours.

Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | comment Comment
12/27/03
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid

'If nature abhors a vacuum, how come Affleck hasn't been struck by lightning yet?'

Full Review Source: Teletext | comment Comment
01/20/04
Paul Arendt
Paul Arendt
Teletext

It's a sci-fi thriller that's so tired, routine and smothered in deja vu that it's rather shocking to think it was directed by John Woo.

Full Review Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer | comment Comment
12/25/03
William Arnold
William Arnold
Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Forgoes originality in favor of stock thriller trappings.

Full Review Source: Palo Alto Weekly | comment Comment
12/20/03
Jeanne Aufmuth
Jeanne Aufmuth
Palo Alto Weekly

'Paycheck' is a speedy thing, both in story and appearance, Woo having given the film a clean, tooled-steel appearance.

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/25/03
Chris Barsanti
Chris Barsanti
Film Threat

Fails to satisfy as either a Dickian head trip or a Woo-zy thriller...

Full Review Source: Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN) | comment Comment
12/29/03
John Beifuss
John Beifuss
Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)

This is one Affleck misstep you can't blame on J. Lo.

Full Review Source: Las Vegas Weekly | comment Comment
12/24/03
Josh Bell
Josh Bell
Las Vegas Weekly

Paycheck is bad enough that it may convince some movie-goers not to go to another film just because it was made by John Woo.

Full Review Source: ReelViews | comment Comment
12/23/03
James Berardinelli
James Berardinelli
ReelViews

The Swiss could take lessons...on how to mold something so cheesy and full of holes (but) the picture (gets by on) Woo's distinctively, gratifyingly slick cinematic tactics.

Full Review Source: SPLICEDWire | comment Comment
12/21/03
Rob Blackwelder
Rob Blackwelder
SPLICEDWire

Paycheck is nothing more than an adequate thriller; a standard chase movie.

Full Review Source: Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN) | comment Comment
12/30/03
Bob Bloom
Bob Bloom
Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)

Affleck gives a sleek, economical performance as Jennings.

Full Review Source: Orlando Sentinel | comment Comment
12/25/03
Jay Boyar
Jay Boyar
Orlando Sentinel

Affleck is no Schwarzenegger but director Woo works with what he's got. With Uma Thurman as the action sidekick/love interest, how bad can it be?

Full Review Source: Cinema Signals | comment Comment
01/01/04
Jules Brenner
Jules Brenner
Cinema Signals

Woo's sci-fi thriller puts "MacGyver" into a Philip K. Dick short story, never taking itself too seriously.

Full Review Source: Des Moines Register | comment Comment
12/24/03
Jeffrey Bruner
Jeffrey Bruner
Des Moines Register

The first hurdle is the hardest: Accepting Ben Affleck in the role of possibly the most intelligent man on the planet.

Full Review Source: Creative Loafing | comment Comment
12/30/03
Matt Brunson
Matt Brunson
Creative Loafing

There's only limited suspense and absolutely nothing like a character you can believe in.

Full Review Source: Kansas City Star | comment Comment
12/25/03
Robert W. Butler
Robert W. Butler
Kansas City Star
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by critic A-Z; Australian critics are listed first)
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Latest News for Paycheck

August 31, 2006: A Taste of What's "Next" for Nicolas Cage
Any time I hear the phrase "movie based on a Philip K. Dick story," I know I have to do a little more research. The next PKD adaptation is Lee Tamahori's... More...

August 08, 2006: Paul Giamatti to Star as Philip K. Dick
He night not be as famous as H.G. Wells or Isaac Asimov, but ask a sci-fi enthusiast what they think of Philip K. Dick, and get ready for a lengthy conversation. The late and... More...

November 08, 2005: Nic Cage & Julianne Moore Will Do Sci-Fi Action Flick "Next"
Variety reports that Nicolas Cage and Julianne Moore will star in Revolution's "Next," which is a sci-fi action project based on a story by genre giant Philip K. Dick. More...

July 08, 2005: Trailer Bulletin: The Exorcism of Emily Rose
Head on over to the film's official site for your first look at the trailer to "The Exorcism of Emily Rose." The supernatural horror flick is directed by Scott... More...

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