Paycheck (2003)

Directed by: John Woo | 119 minutes | action, science fiction, thriller | Actors: Ben Affleck, Uma Thurman, Aaron Eckhart, Michael C. Hall, Colm Feore, Paul Giamatti, Joe Morton, Peter Friedman, Kathryn Morris

The originally Chinese John Woo has created a stylish action film with ‘Paycheck’ with spectacular chases and visual effects. He previously directed ‘Mission Impossible 2’ and the blockbuster ‘Face/Off’. Unfortunately, ‘Paycheck’ cannot match the latter.

The scene in which Jennings and his sweetheart Rachel race through the streets of Seattle on a motorcycle against the traffic – however, the film was shot entirely in Vancouver, Canada – is amazingly well done. But it’s perhaps the most exciting and original in the entire film, because otherwise there is not much new to see. When we see Jennings take apart a computer, it even seems like we’re in ‘Minority Report’ for a moment. Memory was also played with in this film. Both films are based on short stories by Philip K. Dick, the science fiction writer who also created the stories behind ‘Blade Runner’ and ‘Total Recall’.

Ben Affleck (Jennings) does not really impress as a film hero with his flat playing. Although Uma Thurman (Rachel) has shown her mastery of martial arts in ‘Kill Bill’, in ‘Paycheck’ she only gets a few chances to eliminate some opponents. Most of the time, Affleck is in charge and Thurman is behind his docile girlfriend except for a few extravagances. With the relationship between Jennings and Rachel, Woo also wanted to tell a love drama. Something that he managed well in ‘Face/Off’, unfortunately does not show in ‘Paycheck’. Affleck and Thurman fail to convince as a love couple.

‘Paycheck’ is a well-made action movie that would grab the viewer more if the story were told in an hour and a half. Now it lasts just a little too long at two hours and you are more on the edge of your seat with impatience than with tension.