Next (2007)

A Las Vegas magician who can see into the future is pursued by FBI agents seeking to use his abilities to prevent a nuclear terrorist attack.

Director:

Lee Tamahori

Writers:

Gary Goldman (screenplay), Jonathan Hensleigh (screenplay),

Stars:

Nicolas Cage, Julianne Moore, Jessica Biel

1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nicolas Cage	...	Cris Johnson
Julianne Moore	...	Callie Ferris
Jessica Biel	...	Liz Cooper
Thomas Kretschmann	...	Mr. Smith
Tory Kittles	...	Cavanaugh
José Zúñiga	...	Security Chief Roybal (as Jose Zuniga)
Jim Beaver	...	NSA Director Wisdom
Jason Butler Harner	...	Jeff Baines
Michael Trucco	...	Kendall
Enzo Cilenti	...	Mr. Jones
Laetitia Danielle	...	Miss Brown
Nicolas Pajon	...	Mr. Green
Sergej Trifunovic	...	Mr. White
Charles Rahi Chun	...	Davis (as Charles Chun)
Patricia Prata	...	Showgirl

Storyline

Las Vegas showroom magician Cris Johnson has a secret which torments him: he can see a few minutes into the future. Sick of the examinations he underwent as a child and the interest of the government and medical establishment in his power, he lies low under an assumed name in Vegas, performing cheap tricks and living off small-time gambling "winnings." But when a terrorist group threatens to detonate a nuclear device in Los Angeles, government agent Callie Ferris must use all her wiles to capture Cris and convince him to help her stop the cataclysm.

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Plot Keywords:

magician | fbi agent | fbi | spilled drink | changing the future | 

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Taglines:

If you can see the future, you can save it.

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Genres:

Action | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violent action, and some language

Details

Official Sites:

Paramount [us] TFM [fr]

Country:

USA

Language:

English French German

Release Date:

27 April 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

El vidente

Filming Locations:

Big Bear Valley, San Bernardino National Forest, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$70,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£795,012 (UK) (27 April 2007)

Gross:

$17,993,461 (USA) (15 June 2007)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures, Revolution Studios, Initial Entertainment Group (IEG)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film's translation in Russia is "The Prophet"

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Goofs

Nicolas Cage's character tells a joke about a "Zen master" ordering a hot dog. Cage says, "he said he'd have 'one with everything.'" The punch line should be "make me one with everything." Cage's wording misses the point (and the expression on Jessica Biel's face suggests she misses the point too).

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Quotes

[first lines]
Emcee: Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the man who knows what you're going to do before you do it. The amazing Frank Cadillac!

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Crazy Credits

A ticking clock is superimposed on Revolution Studios' and Saturn Films' opening logos.

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Connections

References A Clockwork Orange (1971)

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Soundtracks

"Asi Sera"
Written by Rick Garcia and Rene Reyes
Performed by The Green Car Motel

User Reviews

Good. Not cheesy, Not overblown. Just pretty darn good.

Cris Johnson has the ability to see 2 minutes into his own future. He works a low-level magic act in Las Vegas with this secret ability and also makes money gambling. However, an FBI Agent sees his uncanny ability to foresee the immediate future and tries to get him to foil a terrorist plot.

The basic plot outline above isn't wholly exciting and can initially smell of outdated Cold War plot lines. And seeing that it is in the hands of Hollywood in the form of big budget action vehicle it will definitely turn many viewers off. The recent highly contrived sci-fi action movie "Deja Vu" is also another potential unfair strike against this movie. But, be clear of doubt, this film is actually good and it succeeds in being intriguing and not cheesy at the same time - completely unlike the "Deja Vu." "Next" leaves a lot to the audience's imagination and certain things are there just for you to accept on the basis that this is a movie - no lengthy pseudo-science speeches here. The movie also makes very good use of computer effects - there aren't many and the few that there are, aren't awful looking like director Lee Tamahori's last feature "XXX: The State of the Union." Johnson's clairvoyance is shown in a clever way and the story takes several nice turns. There is the stock Hollywood romantic angle here, but cheesiness is mercifully spared as it is not over done, but actually played out humorously in certain scenes.

Then the kicker is the ending, which I dare not give away, and it is a real breath of fresh air. It leaves you a lot to think about and that ultimately ends this film with, not a bang which many people might expect from a big-budget action-fest. No, definitely not a bang, but a hum. That hum will stay with you for a while after you finish watching as you think about what happened and what may still happen. --- 8/10

Rated PG-13 for violence