Uneven but engrossing

Rating: 7/10 (31 May 2011)

This is an interesting pair of movies.
I say that because it really *feels* like two movies. 2/3 of the movie takes place in the "present" spying on the past. That plot line is a tight investigative thriller with a very clever spin on the genre-standard car chase. It fully resolves with the catching of the terrorist.
Then the movie goes on to suddenly turn into a time travel movie, and this part is not as tight or as satisfying. After being told that the mass of an object determines the power requirements to send it back in time, and establishing that sending a piece of paper back in time in the first 2/3 practically blacks out New Orleans, they somehow send all of a not small Denzel Washington back in time without a lot more impact. Odd to say the least.
The only idiot-plot moment of the film also occurs in this last 1/3 when Claire, on spotting the terrorist returning to the ferry, does NOT go tell the police right behind her, as she was instructed and who undoubtedly have radios to warn the police on the ferry, but instead decides to chase him. How she even gets ON the boat is a bit of a mystery since we see the terrorist JUST make it on before the gates are closed before she even starts running for it.
All in all, this last 1/3 is so sloppy compared to the first 2/3 it makes one wonder if it wasn't tacked on by a studio demand for a "happy ending."
Still its an entertaining film and the last 1/3, if a bit weak, maintains a good pace and carries you to the end.
Edit: It recently occurred to me that the first 2/3 of the film can also be viewed as an interesting allegory for the "imaginary" relationships we have in the modern world. His falling in love with, and in a real sense constructing an imaginary relationship, with this woman he by definition cannot interact with but only observe parallels our modern day obsession with media figures and "internet friends."