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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 rotten rating; Australian critics are listed first)
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N/R

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

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Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
10/18/08
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile
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Full Review Source: Dark Horizons | comment Comment
03/14/05
Garth Franklin
Garth Franklin
Dark Horizons
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N/R

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Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix | comment Comment
12/27/03
Boston Phoenix
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N/R

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Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
04/09/04
Guardian [UK]
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N/R

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Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle | comment Comment
07/21/05
Houston Chronicle
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N/R

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Full Review Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch | comment Comment
12/25/03
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
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N/R

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Full Review Source: Daily Mail [UK] | comment Comment
01/17/04
Christopher Tookey
Christopher Tookey
Daily Mail [UK]
N/R

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Full Review Source: PopMatters | comment Comment
01/09/04
Cynthia Fuchs
Cynthia Fuchs
PopMatters
N/R

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Full Review Source: San Francisco Examiner | comment Comment
01/15/04
David Germain
David Germain
San Francisco Examiner
N/R

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Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
02/09/06
Derek Adams
Derek Adams
Time Out
N/R

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Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed | comment Comment
04/29/09
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed
N/R

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Full Review Source: Montreal Film Journal | comment Comment
01/27/04
Kevin N. Laforest
Kevin N. Laforest
Montreal Film Journal
N/R

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Full Review Source: Nitrate Online | comment Comment
01/02/04
KJ Doughton
KJ Doughton
Nitrate Online

Forget about seeing it.

Full Review Source: E! Online | comment Comment
12/23/03
E! Online
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Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/06/05
Film Threat
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Full Review Source: Sunday Times (Australia) | comment Comment
03/22/04
Sunday Times (Australia)
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Just add an underwritten love interest, a scruffy yet lovable sidekick, stir violently and overcook action sequences. Serves millions, but tastes bland.

Full Review Source: Premiere Magazine | comment Comment
12/29/03
Aaron Hillis
Aaron Hillis
Premiere Magazine

Operates at the level of a Game Boy shoot-'em-up: all action, bells and whistles, but no substance.

Full Review Source: culturevulture.net | comment Comment
12/24/03
Arthur Lazere
Arthur Lazere
culturevulture.net

It doesn’t take a world-famous genius to peg this thing a paycheck movie if there ever was one.

Full Review Source: Lowell Sun | comment Comment
02/28/04
Austin O'Connor
Austin O'Connor
Lowell Sun
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by rotten rating; 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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