DVD: Nicolas Cage: Knowing (2009)

Based on a story by author Ryne Douglas Pearson, KNOWING is a moody sci-fi thriller starring Nicolas Cage as John Koestler, a widowed MIT astrophysicist who lives in wooded seclusion with his young son, Caleb (Chandler Canterbury). When Caleb is handed an envelope unearthed from a school time capsule buried 50 years earlier, its cryptic numerical sequence captures the interest of his dad, who soon realises the powerful significance of the document, which seems to predict major world disasters throughout history. Unfortunately, there are three calamities that have yet to unfold, and John, aided reluctantly by single mother Diana Wayland (Rose Byrne) and her daughter, Abby (Lara Robinson), must try to unravel the mystery of the numbers before many more lives are lost.

Alex Proyas's follow-up to 2004's I, ROBOT, returns to the shadowy atmosphere of the director's revered cult film, DARK CITY, while staying within the realm of the Hollywood big-budget disaster movie. Though the plot takes some outlandish turns, the film is grounded by solid performances from Cage, Byrne, and the impressive child actors, and Proyas further anchors the proceedings in moments of captivatingly bleak realism. Like the remake of THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL, KNOWING is a pensive and melancholy thriller that rewards discerning viewers willing to follow its strange and intriguing tale.