Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Romain Duris | ... | Nathan | |
John Malkovich | ... | Kay | |
Evangeline Lilly | ... | Claire | |
Pascale Bussières | ... | Anna | |
Sara Waisglass | ... | Tracey | |
Reece Thompson | ... | Jeremy (as Reece Daniel Thompson) | |
Bruno Verdoni | ... | Doctor | |
Joan Gregson | ... | Mother in Law | |
Mark Camacho | ... | Lawyer | |
Robin Wilcock | ... | Lawyer | |
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Edward Yankie | ... | Lawyer |
Carlo Mestroni | ... | Lawyer | |
Glenda Braganza | ... | Rachel | |
Leni Parker | ... | Admission Clerk | |
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Henri Pardo | ... | Haitian Spokesman |
Nathan, a brilliant New York lawyer who leads a life of professional success, but his private life is pretty dismal since he divorced Claire, his only love. Until he meets Doctor Kay, a mysterious doctor who introduces himself as a "Messenger." He claims that he can sense when certain people are about to die, and that he is sent to help them put their life in order before it's too late. Nathan doesn't believe a word of this, but soon afterwards he witnesses some disconcerting scenes which seem to confirm the doctor's claims. Written by anonymous
A carefully constructed and beautifully photographed film. Very successfully and thoughtfully utilizes diverse North American locations- from rustic summertime Quebec to New York City to White Sands, New Mexico and SW environs.
Features classic Atom Egoyan narrative/plot/hook structure: that keeps you "learning" -up to the final frames- just what you have been watching.
But...... the film is so thick- both thematically and with its sumptuous imagery- that by the time you get there (the end)- the reasonable 1hr45 screening time seems about 30min past due. You are worn out as if you've been force fed a fine cheese cake. Less would definitely be more.
Also... the film comes so close to Egoyan as to practically- and I believe at one point actually- lift some lines directly from THE SWEET HEREAFTER (1997): "...Someone didn't do his job... There is no mystery..." - although here, the character's arc carries him beyond being imprisoned by this thinking.
Overall: good, meaningful, thought provoking, flawed- underrated by the IMDb score.