Dude, where's your memory?

Rating: 10/10 (19 November 2013)

The film takes a little time to get going with a good half hour concentrating on the lead characters' early lives as children and teenagers, but it's all connected to the later scenes, so pay attention because it all comes together in the end. The kids playing the younger parts were also very good, as was Eric Stoltz in yet another scuzzy role (love the drink). What really hooked me about this film was its basic concept though, that being the idea of one being able to change one's past, in order to "fix" one's present or future. I think a lot of people are going to be able to connect to this premise because we would all love to have second chance at various crossroads from our lives, so the idea of legitimately altering a moment from our past, is an intriguing one. It's also presented in such a way that I was able to buy it (at least, for the film's purposes). I also appreciated the film's dark, grungy feel, which added to its consistently ominous atmosphere. It also needs to be said that this isn't a "happy go lucky" movie whatsoever and is actually quite depressing at times with stints in prison, prostitution, mental problems, child abuse, violence and various other negative societal elements permeating its fabric. This isn't MY BOSS' DAUGHTER 2, folks. The film's conclusion is also somewhat ambiguous, which I tend to appreciate, especially in cases like this one in which fate plays a big part.
Even if we were able to change our pasts, destiny would ultimately find its way back into our lives, one way or another. The first "must see" movie of the 2004.