Weekly Review -- Retroactive future

Premonition (2007) -- This intense drama revolves around the concepts of destiny and love, and is quite a trip. Literally. Housewife Linda Hanson (Sandra Bullock) finds out that her husband Jim (Julian McMahon) has died in a car accident; however, when she wakes up the next day, he is alive. The very next day, he is dead once again, and Linda starts worrying that she is losing her grip on reality... if only she could figure out what reality is. The story is philosophical and mostly gloomy, with moody shots and music setting the ambiance. The claustrophobic confusion of Linda's world is presented in a pessimistic manner, with almost labyrinthine pathways taking the story from one point to the next. Therein lies the problem, though -- instead of realizing what is going on, the audience is often just as confused as the protagonist. We do not really keep discovering things along with Linda, as much as we are hoping that the situation will soon be clarified. Some unnecessary parts, like the asylum scene, do not help the story. I did not see the point of this particular sequence at all; it felt completely out of context.

**HUGE SPOILERS AHEAD (please highlight to read)**

Another problem are some plot holes. The main one for me is found in one of the final scenes, when Linda asks Jim to turn the car around, after he pulls over on the highway where he is supposed to die. I understand that she is terrified of him dying; however, I do not see why she would ask him to turn the car, being that he is out of harm's way at this juncture. I know that the event is trying to illustrate the film's message concerning our inability to change fate, but this was simply an illogical development.

As far as the ending goes, I liked it a lot and thought it to be appropriate. It was an unconventional and optimistic hint at the future. In another film, it may have seemed like the filmmakers' attempt at being preachy and politically correct, but I thought it fit in with Linda's constant inner struggles and fight for her family.

**END OF SPOILERS**

Bullock does a great job as Linda. Her scenes with the children are heartbreaking and her character's determination is a matter of life and death. She is a very good dramatic actress and I hope she gets many more chances to show it. McMahon does not have much to work with, but does all right as the perplexed husband.

Premonition will surely make you think twice about the meaning of life, hope and faith, while also offering up quite a bit of suspense. It is not a perfect film -- some parts could have been more detailed and less disorienting -- but its premise is creative enough to warrant a viewing and a discussion.

8/10