X
- 2003
- PG-13
- Paramount Home Entertainment
- 1 h 59 m
- 2003
- PG-13
- Paramount Home Entertainment
- 1 h 59 m
Summary John Woo directs this sci-fi action thriller based on a story written by Philip K. Dick about an engineer who wakes up with his short-term memory erased.
Directed By: John Woo
Written By: Philip K. Dick, Dean Georgaris
- 2003
- PG-13
- Paramount Home Entertainment
- 1 h 59 m
- 2003
- PG-13
- Paramount Home Entertainment
- 1 h 59 m
Paycheck
43
7.9
Where to Watch
Summary John Woo directs this sci-fi action thriller based on a story written by Philip K. Dick about an engineer who wakes up with his short-term memory erased.
Directed By: John Woo
Written By: Philip K. Dick, Dean Georgaris
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 34 Critic Reviews
43
21% Positive
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
56% Mixed
19 Reviews
19 Reviews
24% Negative
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 34 Critic Reviews
43
21% Positive
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
56% Mixed
19 Reviews
19 Reviews
24% Negative
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
John Woo's smart thriller Paycheck may not intend to be political, but it's marked as much by its era as post-Watergate thrillers like "The Parallax View" or "Three Days Of The Condor."
Slick and slight.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 233 User Ratings
7.9
79% Positive
184 Ratings
184 Ratings
11% Mixed
25 Ratings
25 Ratings
10% Negative
24 Ratings
24 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 233 User Ratings
7.9
79% Positive
184 Ratings
184 Ratings
11% Mixed
25 Ratings
25 Ratings
10% Negative
24 Ratings
24 Ratings
I think that this movie has many twists and turns that is enough to keep people on the edge of their seats. And it surely has something to tell. It mentioned that predicting the future is something that we should not try to do. After all, I think that this is a very nice movie.
Report
Paycheck is a good early noughties thriller with a great cast. The plot is typical of films based on the works of Philip K. ****. In general, the very idea of erasing part of the memory is not badly beaten, it all looks not so fantastic. Paycheck as a thriller successfully keeps the viewer at the screen, there is suspense and a predictable ending. Moreover, the predictability of what is happening still has a plot explanation. Paycheck was undeservedly received by the audience. This is a really smart thriller, in which action scenes are well placed that do not allow you to get bored. Every thing in the film has a logical explanation.
Report
Woo's customary action-film pyrotechnics gather more substance than usual from the implausible but inventive plot, drawn from a Philip K. Dick story.
Surprisingly . . . ept given that it is basically a dumb movie about smart people. This smooth but bland thriller may be the best we could expect from such a collaboration.
Unfortunately, after watching Paycheck, you may wish you had the picture's gimmickry at your disposal, so you could erase your own memory of it.
The story, adapted by Dean Georgaris, doesn't come within a light year of science-fiction plausibility, and after a while Woo gives up trying to sell it and reverts to the action choreography that made him a master of Hong Kong martial-arts movies.
Represents such a professional nadir for each of its principals that you wish better for them in the new year.
When I first saw this film I didn't even know it was a Philip K. **** short story. The movie came out almost 12 years ago but it didn't seem so far off until I realized I didn't remember why he’s being chased. I remembered some of the action scenes and the mystery solving so in my mind it looked more like an action than sci-fi movie. The plot is basically centered around the action, the car chases, gunshots, and explosions - not at a Michael Bay level - but still a very action-centered movie. It made the characters looks quite one-dimensional
It's funny how this futuristic sci-fi movie is a bit off. I mean the movie doesn't really hold up today. It's still a good science fiction - I meant action - story and I enjoyed watching it, maybe even more now that I recognize all of the supporting cast, but parts of the movie looked...fake I guess, or like it was made in the 80s instead of the 00s.
Paycheck was awesome when I saw it as a kid, it’s still a pleasant movie to watch but it’s definitely not a film for a nitpicking audience. @wornoutspines
Report
It's difficult at this point to dislike a Philip K. **** story, but even the mighty John Woo manages it with incredibly low expectations. The major problem is the lead, Ben Affleck, who is about as likable and charismatic as a wet blanket. Uma Thurman and Paul Giamatti give honest performances, but they aren't enough to save the lifeless plot. There's little to care about such an action film such as this one which takes its drama so seriously.
Report
Production Company
Paramount Pictures,
Dreamworks Pictures,
Davis Entertainment,
Lion Rock Productions,
Solomon/Hackett Productions,
Province of British Columbia Film Incentive BC
Release Date Dec 25, 2003
Duration 1 h 59 m
Rating PG-13
Tagline Everything's Under control
Awards
Razzie Awards
• 1 Win & 2 Nominations
Key Art Awards
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
The Stinkers Bad Movie Awards
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
