The Forgotten

Starring: Julianne Moore, Gary Sinise, Anthony Edwards, Dominic West
Directed by: Joseph Ruben
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Thriller
2004

Times Seen:
Tim: 2

Summary: For months now, a mother (Julianne Moore) has mourned the death of her only son, in a plane crash. However, when her husband (Anthony Edwards) tells her that she never had a son, and her psychiatrist (Gary Sinise) agrees with him, she refuses to believe it, and tracks down the father (Dominic West) of another child who died in the same plane crash. As the two investigate, they uncover something far more sinister than they ever imagined.

Review:

Tim: This is a much better movie than you might anticipate. It simply reeks of B-movie status, but it is better than that. This is actually a tight, twisting mystery that pulls you along for a remarkable ride. Immediately, we are caught up in the touching story of a mother who cannot let go of her deceased son. However, just as we begin to think that perhaps she is really crazy, a mystery surfaces that enthralls us. We are just as eager for the answers as Julianne Moore's character.

Julianne Moore is terrific in the starring role. Her performance makes the movie believable and thrilling. She needed a little more help from her supporting cast, however. Gary Sinise contributes nothing to the film in a role he is too good to play. He must have thought so, too- because he doesn't try very hard. Dominic West is convincing, Anthony Edwards is boring, and the rest of the cast isn't worth mentioning.

The Forgotten has three incredible moments that are startling and make us jump nearly out of our seats. They are spaced apart throughout the movie and keep us on our toes. This movie also boasts perhaps the most startling car crash scene I've ever watched. Pay close attention for it.

This is perhaps the most important part of this review- the theatrical conclusion to the film is extremely weak and downright terrible. It practically ruined the movie for me. However, in the DVD, this is all fixed with an alternate ending that is dozens and dozens of times better. If you want to watch this movie, I wholeheartedly recommend the DVD and watching the alternate ending. Your viewing will be much more enjoyable.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating- 7


If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: The X-Files, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, Don't Say a Word