BASED ON THE NOVEL "THE GOLDEN MAN" BY PHILLIP K.DICK

SCREEN STORY BY GARY GOLDMAN

SCREENPLAY BY PETER BERNBAUM,GARY GOLDMAN & JONATHAN HENSLEIGH

PRODUCED BY NICOLAS CAGE,TODD GARNER,NORMAN GOLIGHTLY,GRAHAM KING & ARNIE SCHMIDT

DIRECTED BY LEE TAMAHORI

GENRE:ACTION/SCIENCE FICTION/THRILLER

RATED:AUSTRALIA:M/UK:12/USA:PG-13

RUNNING TIME:96 MIN

Loosely based on the novel "The Golden Man" by über sci-fi writer Phillip K. Dick, Next stars Nicolas Cage as a Las Vegas magician who is able to see 2 minutes into his own future. When a missing Russian nuke is smuggled into the U.S.A., he is tapped by dogged FBI Agent (Julianne Moore) to help find the bomb. Moore, who impressed in a number of performances from the late 1990's to the early 2000's, continues to piss her career away with another unconvincing turn as a bad ass FBI Agent, ala Hannibal. When Cage's character declines her offer, he goes on the lamb with his unsuspecting dream girl, played by Jessica Biel who I suspect was cast because of her body and hot her acting ability, which is limited to say the least.
Nicolas Cage's erratic charisma saves the film from becoming a total disaster (just barely). He is a great entertainer who I have always found to be fun to watch, as evident in a multi shot scene where he uses his gift to pick up a clueless Biel. His character makes his own destiny one step at a time, thus the viewer is treated to several sequences featuring Cage venturing into different directions and starting again if things do not go his way. However, leaning on such a character trait immediately kills any and all suspense, with a supposedly thrilling shoot out near the end of the movie completely void of danger and excitement. Poorly developed and cast Russian goons further dampen proceedings.
The film tries to say something about personal freedom and individual rights, while demonizing government agents who are trying to stop a nuclear bomb destroy half of California (those monsters!), and glorifying a man who is more than happy to welcome destruction because of a grudge with authority.
A cop out of an ending worthy of a TV soap opera just made me want to kick in my TV screen. I can't believe that director Lee Tamahori, the man who directed the excellent New Zealand drama Once Were Warriors, helmed this crap.