Movie Review

Awake (R)

Mark Burger

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Hollywood.com Says
As a gimmicky tale of betrayal and medical malfeasance in the tradition of Coma, this atmospheric thriller boasts a solid cast and enough twists to painlessly kill 85 minutes.

Story
Clay Beresford (Hayden Christensen) has it all: wealth, power, good looks, and a gorgeous fiancée, Sam (Jessica Alba). Unfortunately, he’s also got a weak heart, and it’s only a matter of time before circumstances compel him to go under the knife. Although given anesthesia during the operation, Clay is still able to feel pain and hear the doctors around him, a situation made infinitely worse when he comes to realize that he is the victim of a nefarious conspiracy to bilk him of his fortune. He’s worth much more dead than alive, but to whom? Clay’s (semi-)out-of-body experience allows him--and the film--to travel backwards in time, as he tries to piece together clues to the conspiracy that now holds him in its power. The medical aspects of the story are dicey at best, but the intent of this sort of film is to try and fool the audience with each plot twist. It’s essentially a whodunit in reverse.

Acting
Awake’s got a great cast, with everyone (except Christensen) occupying the role of red herring at one time or another--and clearly having a good time chewing up the scenery. Christensen’s the straight man here, a role he fills with a relaxed charisma and a good amount of empathy. Alba, looking absolutely dynamite, is the sort of fiancée that any red-blooded male would risk a coronary for. If looks could kill, Alba would knock ‘em dead--which just might be a hint, or still another red herring. The surgical team includes such reliable stalwarts as Terrence Howard, Fisher Stevens (also an executive producer of the film) and Christopher McDonald--many of whom have played heavies before, all the better to try and fool the viewer. Lena Olin, no slouch in the beauty department herself, is cast to type as Clay’s over-protective mother. It’s a role she could play in her sleep, but Olin’s far too resourceful an actress not to bring a little something extra to the party.

Direction
Awake marks the feature debut of writer/director Joby Harold, who overreaches from time to time with the twists but who’s always in there swinging. Awake may be far-fetched, sometimes to the point of absurdity, but it’s not a lazy film. Harold also has the added bonus of Oscar-winning cinematographer Russell Carpenter on his team, who brings a great visual sense to the film. The hospital scenes, filmed at Bellevue, are appropriately clammy and creepy--which really lend suspense to the proceedings, as silly as they sometimes are. It’ll be interesting to see what Harold next has up his sleeve. Awake is very reminiscent of the B-movies of yesteryear, preying on a common fear--in this case, surgery--and attempting to milk it to maximum effect. It doesn’t add up to a whole lot, but it’s not bad.

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