Movies

I agree with the reviewer who wrote that this was "three quarters of a very good film." The cast is marvelous. Kidman brings movie queen presence and guarded vulnerability to her role, as only she can. The icy, remote, sparse atmosphere of the film is noteworthy, but somehow creates a detachment from the raw emotions of the story. The plot unfolds in an efficient, generally satisfying manner. However, the film is sober, where it should have been flamboyant, and safe where it might have been edgy. In the end, I was wishing this had been filmed with panache, by a stylish and adventurous director. Atmosphere and character developments might have been richer and more complex. As it stands, it is a solid, classy, well-acted potboiler.

I was willing to go along for the ride with this movie because of the excellent actors involved.But the idea that a brain-damaged woman could be easily removed from a medical facility, by an imposter with false papers, is a stretch.That her supposed best friend would know nothing about it and be unable to track her down is unlikely.To top it off, how was the doctor able to find her and meet with her multiple times, if she was untraceable? Just doesn't make any sense.

For the most part "Before I Go To Sleep" is a very well made psychological thriller, directed in a spare, quiet style that is quite uncommon in modern cinema, excellently acted by the three leads, and scripted like a riddle that you keep trying to solve; the one main plot twist is mind-blowing. But after having played the ace up its sleeve, the film becomes more conventional, and there is an excess of violence near the end, most of it directed against Nicole Kidman's lost and vulnerable character, which made me cringe. See also the strikingly similar in some ways (and superior) "Shattered" from 1991....and of course you don't need me to point out the resemblances to the cult hit "Memento". **1/2 out of 4.