The weirdness of actor Nicolas Cage and the weirdness of science-fiction author Philip K. Dick seem like a natural fit. The premise, taken from a short story by Dick, is a good one: A mediocre Las Vegas magician named Chris Johnson (Cage) can see into the future--but only about two minutes at the most. Just enough to pull off his act and to make some money at the gambling tables, so long as he's discreet. Unfortunately, he hasn't been discreet enough; a government agent (Julianne Moore) has sussed out his precognitive talent and wants to use him to track down terrorists. But all Johnson cares about is a beautiful young woman (Jessica Biel, The Illusionist) that he can see in his future--much further in his future than he's ever seen before.

Next has flashes that point to a much, much better movie than it turned out to be. A sequence in which Johnson, clairvoyantly explores all the different permutations of how he might approach his mystery woman is both funny and thought-provoking, and when Johnson avoids pursuers by knowing just the right moment to turn a corner or duck his head, it's smart and suspenseful. Unfortunately, the terrorist part of the plot is utterly perfunctory and precognition is reduced to an action movie gimmick. Somewhere in there is the kernel of a romantic comedy about precognition that's just waiting to be made. Cage gives a solid if unsurprising performance, Moore is basically earning a paycheck, but Biel is unexpectedly good (and her part is considerably better-written than your usual romantic interest); her performance suggests a better future than anyone might have predicted. --Bret Fetzer

I'm following the herd in giving this 3 stars because it's somewhere in the middle of very good and rather daft. I was tempted to comment that it was one of those films that doesn't know what it wants to be, but after a while I realised that it wants to be almost everything. It starts off with an interesting premise (and the main reason I wanted to see it) in that central character Chris can see up to two minutes into his own future. I have always wished that I had exactly this power, because one of the first places I would go would be the casino. So I was delighted to see that the film starts off in Las Vegas and Chris, after he's finished his backroom magician act, is playing the tables. He's being monitored by the casino security who can't figure out his secret. But soon the story takes a severe left-turn into silliness, when the FBI suddenly need him to prevent a nuclear holocaust in Los Angeles. While they try to pin him down - which isn't easy as Chris can always see into the future of course - he tries to pick up a woman in a diner who he has developed something of a crush on. His efforts are comedic and this was when I realised that after making the mistake of mixing science fiction with a thriller, the producers grabbed the kitchen sink and decided to throw in a healthy dollop of romantic comedy as well.

You just have to accept it and enjoy the ride, although you might need three brains to get the most out of it. Your fantasy brain will like the sci-fi element, your thinking brain will enjoy the thrills and suspense, and the luvvy-duvvy part of you might take pleasure in the romance. It's just that I have only the one brain and found it hard to tune in to the real flavour of this film and what I was supposed to feel as I watched.

I have to say that I think it was wrong to choose Julianne Moore in the role of a semi-macho FBI agent. She really was cloning Clarise Starling (from Hannibal [2001]) from start to finish. Jessica Biel was better cast, pointless as she was, but Nicholas Cage is beginning to remind me of David Carradine with a facelift, and I kept getting flashes of Kill Bill 2 as a result.

In the end it's rather silly but watchable nonsense. Its one relatively original idea is overused and wasted as a result. I can't help but think that the concept was good but the interpretation was weak and without any real originality at all.

Please if you're even considering buying this film...DON'T!! It's absolutely awful. Firstly the plot is pathetic to begin with. A guy that can see 2 minutes into the future? how the hell does that work. The sheer mechanics of how a guy would think of every outcome within the next 2 minutes that could possibly happen sends my head spinning. As for the ending...my god. I almost died of laughter at how bad it was. Turns out everything you watched was all a dream of his, predicting the future. But I thought he only saw 2 minutes into the future?!?!?! The film breaks its own rules. It's utterly awful. Surely everyone making this film knew it was total crap right??

Throw in nic cage with his terrible hair cut and this is a film that could either drive you to suicide or, if you're drunk, make you wet yourself laughing at the fact you sat and watched the crap.

What a ghastly, boring and hugely un-entertaining film. What has Mr. Dick done? His earlier films have been tremendous. Nicolas Cage is a strange character and he plays some strange characters in his films. But this one is so incredibly odd that I found myself either laughing out loud or groaning at the poor acting, the bad action shots, the ridiculous dialogue, the all-too-easy missing nuclear bomb ploy and the antics of the now 'must have' feisty female police officer who just happens to be a crack shot in any circumstance. If Cage's character is meant to be able to see into the future, he should have given this film a miss.

nic cage is a good actor and why he wants too star in drivel like this is beyond me
i only hope it was worth the money

The film is great and I enjoyed it from start to real twist end just a great film for a night in take away & good wine.