Paycheck (2003) dir. John Woo

Paycheck (2003) dir. John Woo

Sometimes it’s easier if you work backwards: The stuff you erase doesn’t matter!

Bart! Uma!

A mistake has been made: Smoke detector!

This diamond ring: I was eating Pie!

Union Station, Boston:  Time Viewing!   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_station

Hairspray-lighter Fu! Mexican standoff Fu!

That would be the Red Sox!

You’re in the wrong section:  It’s not a car!

Bike chase: Wrong way a la To Live And Die In L.A. !

Peterbilt-on-bad-guy violence: Check!

Gantlet: Tunnel made from shipping containers! Got it!

Helmet-thrown-through-the-smashed-out-window-of-a-cop-car Fu!

I wouldn’t trade our time for anything!   (John Woo avoided going to film school, yet he can’t leave out the mushy stuff. Maybe he knows something I don’t!)

Let’s take a look at the future! Tron-level special effects! Check!

(Stares at his gun when it becomes empty!) Check!

Robot arm Fu!

Mexican Standoff #2!

Buster-Keaton-shower-curtain Fu!

Uma lives! Florist! Deus ex machina lottery ticket!

Believe it or not, this is one of the best John Woo movies made anywhere. Shootouts are here subtle for a John Woo flick--they’re just as imaginative and entertaining, but not quite as histrionic. All the signature moves are retained. Plus, Affleck’s engineer does a great job straddling the roles of a cinematically-mandated action hero and a Philip K. Dickian everyday schulb. 

Contains the three building blocks of monumental cinema:

Sight gags [x]

Car chases [x]

Hot chicks in party dresses [x]* 

Stands the test of time. Check it out!

*(Uma Thurman doesn't need a party dress. Uma Thurman could be wearing sweats and still out hot any hot chick in a party dress.)