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Movie Preview: Next, Starring Nicolas Cage

BuzzSugar — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 00:00:11 PDT

Nicolas Cage is going back to Las Vegas in his new movie, Next, co-starring Jessica Biel and Julianne Moore. Despite its off-puttingly generic name, this sci-fi thriller might actually be pretty cool: Like Minority Report and Blade Runner, it's based on a work of fiction by the legendary Philip K. Dick - in this case, a short story called "The Golden Man."

Cage plays a Vegas magician named Cris Johnson, who can see the future, but only by a few minutes. He uses his power as a cheap parlor trick and nothing more, until he's confronted by a government agent (Julianne Moore), who wants his help in preventing a nuclear threat. Directed by Lee Tamahori (Die Another Day), Next opens nationwide next Friday, April 27. Watch the trailer and tell me what you think when you

10 Philip K. Dick Novels to Read Before (or After) Watching the Adaptations

Kristy Korcz — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:21:00 PST

With 44 novels and 120 short stories published in his lifetime, Philip K. Dick is widely regarded as one of the most prolific science-fiction writers of our time. Since his death in 1982, a number of Dick's novels and stories have been adapted into films, and it's likely that you know his work without ever have read any of his published pieces.

Even if you've already seen these Philip K. Dick-adapted movies in the theater, you should go back and read the books to truly appreciate the work. Let's be frank: sometimes an adaptation just doesn't do the source material justice!

The Adjustment Bureau: Needs Fixing

Lauren Bradshaw — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 03:05:00 PST

Fate versus freewill. Religious theorists and philosophers have contemplated the idea for centuries, and this weekend The Adjustment Bureau tries to tackle the debate. What would you do if you found out your entire life were planned for you? And what if the plan wasn't what you wanted? The weighty subject matter should give you plenty to chew on, but The Adjustment Bureau isn't adept enough to handle the issue. Instead, we get a generic story.

Based on a short story by Philip K. Dick (the sci-fi writer also behind Blade Runner and Minority Report), The Adjustment Bureau stars Matt Damon as David Norris, a politician who crosses paths with a ballerina named Elise (Emily Blunt) in a men's bathroom. Instant sparks ignite, so when they bump into each other again on a bus, David is convinced that fate is intervening. But really, it's a mistake of chance - and it must be corrected. In come suited agents led by Richardson (John Slattery). They're men in charge of monitoring the world (the film suggests they're angels) to make sure everyone proceeds on the path predetermined for them. Since David has fallen off course, they must make sure he forgets about Elise for the sake of his political career. But unfortunately for them, David is quite the smitten schoolboy and isn't willing to let her go.

For my thoughts on the film's problems and Damon's performance,

read more. As the chase begins, David bolts through Manhattan streets to steer clear of Richardson and his men. But how can you outrun or outsmart fate? Especially considering the head of the agency is - as implied in the film - God. There literally is nowhere for David to escape, so you start to wonder where exactly the film can go. Given the story's inventiveness, I kept waiting for a clever twist or unexpected outcome, but the ending is flat and dumbed down. The Adjustment Bureau wants to be a sci-fi film, thriller, and romance all in one, and by trying to do too much, it ultimately runs into problems. It glosses over many of the sci-fi plot components through quick verbal explanation, and the relationship between David and Elise feels rushed. When David first meets the agents, he doesn't seem nearly as concerned with the bizarre group as he is with holding onto Elise's phone number. Not only is it realistic, but it's a little too cheesy. The agents themselves don't help matters; Slattery does the best he can with his role, as does Anthony Mackie (The Hurt Locker) who plays David's personal watcher. But on the whole, they come across as campy and deliver the script's most cliched lines. Damon and Blunt are what ultimately make the film worth watching. Damon was born to play a politician with his charisma, and Blunt's sarcasm makes for fun banter. They have great chemistry, and when the script does allow their relationship to grow, it makes for some of the movie's most gratifying scenes. If only the rest of the film was just as satisfying.