April 24: Paycheck. Note to self: Just because a movie was based on a Phil Dick story doesn't mean it will be a good movie. In fact, odds are not good for movies made from PK Dick stories. I think the problem is that Dick stories start out with a weird, interesting idea, and then get weirder from there. But the movies take the weird interesting idea, and use it as a hook on which to hang a generic action picture. With the exception of Blade Runner of course. And also Minority Report which I thought was pretty good. At least it made some attempt to stay true to the spirit of the story. But Paycheck doesn't even try. And don't get me started on the ending, which totally invalidates what little point they do try to make with the movie. It just makes me feel sad about the lost possibilities.
A big part of the problem with Paycheck is Ben Affleck. Who is a stunningly bad actor. It would have been a much better movie if Paul Giamatti, who played the schlumphy best friend, had been the lead instead. I would have found Giamatti much more convincing as a computer nerd in a Dick story. But then again, it would have been a very different movie if it had starred Paul Giamatti.
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