From the American Heritage Dictionary: “premonition – a presentiment of the future, a foreboding.” I give the exact definition of the word because what Linda Hanson (Sandra Bullock) experienced was SO much more than a simple “foreboding”. This flick was like “Groundhog Day” on crack. She wakes up on Thursday, husband Jim (Julien McMahon) is on a business trip, the daughters come running in ready for school, errands get run, laundry gets put on to wash, it’s a normal day in the neighborhood. Then the doorbell rings. The cop on the other side of the door tells Linda that her husband Jim was involved in an accident the previous day, and was killed. That night, after the kids have been put to bed Linda falls asleep clutching her wedding picture. When she wakes up, it’s Tuesday. The day before Jim is killed and he’s alive and well eating cereal in the kitchen. Another semi-normal day ensues. That night she falls asleep, wakes up in the morning and it’s Saturday, the day of Jim’s funeral. Needless to say, Linda is a bit confused. So is the viewer. Every morning Linda awakens it’s a day either before or after the day her husband dies, leaving you in a constant state of “huh?” until the character herself maps out the series of events on a sheet of paper. One of these days, I’m not sure which; Linda seeks the help of a psychiatrist. On another day, still not sure which, she seeks the help of a priest. Is Jim dead or alive? Is all of this real or is she seriously loosing her shit?

Well acted and directed, if not a bit frustrating, the film is pretty decent. There is a rather dark feeling to it stemming from the twisting plot line and the ominous use of black crows. (Think Orson Wells) The back and forth in time scenes become a bit confusing at times but if you pay attention you’ll be able to follow. I think the scene when Sandra Bullock’s character maps out the time-line was really put in to help out the viewer. The brief explanation of why all of this is happening to her by the priest is rather cryptic and didn’t truly seem as though it explained anything. The insertion of religion and strength of faith seemed more of an after thought than the mind-blowing revelation that I think it was meant to be. All in all, you’ll be glad you didn’t blow the bucks to see it in the theatre but you won’t regret the rental.

Moral of the story: Whatever is supposed to happen will happen no matter what you do.

Peace and Love,
M