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In the past two years, more than any time in cinema history, indie films have grown in popularity. Though some of them are out-right brilliant, there is also the indie films that just copy the big names and film them with lower production value. The second category I just mentioned has nearly become an indie sub-genre. Awake essentially fits here. Though it got a wide release—only God knows how—it's still an indie film in style and direction, and though it appears fresh and original—to the average viewer—it is really just formulaic and predictable.
And painfully boring. Above all the harsh criticism I'm about to deal out, the uninteresting factor is my biggest problem with this film. Awake attempts to take a single plot point—waking up during surgery—and stretch it out for an absolutely ridicules amount of time. If the movie actually focused solely on the plot, it would be fifteen minutes long at most. Yes, there are some middle-school-English-class plot twists, which aren't necessarily predictable, just cliché and laughable. (More on that later.) But the plot twists add nothing to the fact that this movie is literally just a mash up of repeated sequences that repeat over and over to the point of nausea. The sceenplay must have looked something like this: "Operating room; girlfriend; waiting room; ghost scene; operating room; girlfriend; waiting room; ghost scene—(oh, screw it, I'm tired of writing this stupid script, let's just wing it, okay?)" Without exaggerating, you'll see the same scene at least fifteen times. The only changes are the character's facial expressions. Though the run time is relatively short, you'll feel like you just spent an eternity (in hell) watching this movie. And did I mention they added random shots of Alba posing for what looks like a music video on the beach for no reason at all?
The plot itself, as I said, it juvenile. Anyone who knows anything above English class storytelling could tell you that. Instead of having carefully planned out plot twists, you have random reversal-of-expectations that are so over-the-top I thought I was watching a soap opera that just went horribly wrong. It's the same extent of saying, "Hi, my name is Bob! . . . APRIL FOOLS! My name is really Larry." It leaves you thinking, "Yeah, okay, so what?" I usually would have nothing against this formula, however, except Awake does it so cheaply. Instead of realistic shock value—your baby dies in it's sleep—you have cheap thriller plotting—a terrorist stole your baby, go save him! It's hilarious, not shocking. Not to mention when the plot twist is reviled, it's just a standard cliché.
Acting is unintentional hilarious, and I usually don't even notice bad acting. The voice-overs from Hayden Christensen are almost a self-parody.
Overall, Awake is just like every other over-the-top thriller you've seen before. It's not Saw or even The Usual Suspects, it's a bad soap opera. And it's probably one of the most boring movies ever made.
Posted By: MrHorrorfest at 6:25pm, October 9, 2008
I disagree with the review of this film. If your like me and they type of films that scare you are real life then this might be a good film to check out. I don't know why this is for me, but to watch a surgery take place gets under my skin far more than watching freddy slash kids up.
The film follows a very interesting plot that unfolds in real time during a surgery. Its not the best movie but its far better than alot of stuff that we all subject ourselves too.
Also the writer director, this is his first feature, he just happen to sell it to a studio instead of take the film on himself.
So in many ways your watching an indie film that got financed.
IF you like thrillers check it out.
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