Not great, but worth it for the special effects.

Rating: 7/10 (18 July 2009)

Don't have high expectations for this sci-fi thriller that is Knowing. Nicolas Cage leads the cast and his acting is truly terrible. He adds no character into his character, making his performance totally forgettable.
The film starts off extremely well in 1959 where a 6-year-old girl Lucinda Embry predicts the dates and locations as to where disasters occur. After this flashback and the burial of the time capsule, things start to descend, especially when we introduced to Nicolas Cage's character John and his son Caleb.
Later on, things get good when a plane crashes on a freeway and 81 people die, as predicted and just after, a truly spectacular train collision (the effects are amazing)
Rose Byrne's performance as Lucinda's daughter Diana is great, as she is quite troubled and her death in an horrific car crash as predicted is handled well.
With the annoying side plot involving 'The Strangers' that Caleb and Diana's daughter Abby comes across, things get rather boring, especially the long dreadful ending when Caleb and Abby are sent off to space.
The 3 most annoying things about Knowing are: 1. The ridiculously long running time. 115 minutes - could be cut down to 90. 2. Nicolas Cage's awful, dreadful performance as troubled John. 3. The END. Whilst the whole bombing of the entire world is good, the long ending with Caleb and Andy getting taken away to space by 'The Strangers' is very frustrating.
The film deserves the benefit of the doubt. The effects are magnificent, the plot is good then gets bad, the acting's okay, but the film's running time and the sub-plot get really annoying after a while.