The Forgotten (2004)

Director:

Joseph Ruben

Writer (WGA):

Gerald Di Pego (written by)

Release Date:

24 September 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

You'll Never Forget The Ones You Love

Plot:

Told that their children never existed, a man and woman soon discover that there's a much bigger enemy at work.

Plot Keywords:

Psycho Thriller | SWAT Team | Mistaken Identity | Parenthood | Parent Searches Child

Awards:

6 nominations

Cast

Julianne Moore	...	Telly Paretta
Christopher Kovaleski	...	Sam
Matthew Pleszewicz	...	Sam at 5
Anthony Edwards	...	Jim Paretta
Jessica Hecht	...	Eliot
Linus Roache	...	A Friendly Man
Gary Sinise	...	Dr. Jack Munce
Dominic West	...	Ash Correll
Katie Cooper	...	Library Clerk
Scott Nicholson	...	Cop
P.J. Morrison	...	Cop
Robert Wisdom	...	Carl Dayton
Tim Kang	...	Agent Alec Wong
Kathryn Faughnan	...	Lauren Correll
Alfre Woodard	...	Det. Anne Pope

Also Known As:

Stranger (Philippines: English title) (review title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for intense thematic material, some violence and brief language.

Runtime:

91 min | USA:94 min (extended version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #38908) | Malaysia:U | South Korea:15 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Iceland:12 | Germany:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Brazil:12 | Chile:TE | Czech Republic:12 | Finland:K-15 | Ireland:12 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Peru:PT | Philippines:PG-13 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Zurich) | UK:12A

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Revolution Studios

Trivia:

Zak Penn did uncredited revisions on the script.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Ash smashes a large window to exit from the house on Long Island, after the glass has shattered and fallen, there is still glass along the top of the frame as Ash and Telly start to walk through the frame. However, when the shot cuts to outside, we see them stepping through the frame and there is no more glass along the top of the frame.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Dr. Jack Munce: How much time did you spend at the dresser compared to last week?
Telly Paretta: Less.
Dr. Jack Munce: How much less?
Telly Paretta: I don't know exactly.
Dr. Jack Munce: You wanna make a guess, roughly, for the week?
Telly Paretta: Oh, not even an hour a day.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Futurama: The Beast with a Billion Backs (2008) (V)

Lost in Brooklyn

"The Forgotten" is a film that has provoked quite a number of comments to this forum. Never saw it in its commercial run, but we caught it on cable a few nights ago. The film, as directed by Joseph Ruben, and based on Gerard Di Pego's screen treatment has the feeling of a long Sci-Fi channel offering, or maybe an extended "X Files" episode.

The exposition and prologue to the story are excellent. We watch as a disconsolate mother, Telly Paretta, deals with the possible death of her son Sam, who she last saw boarding a flight, in the company of other children on his way to camp. There are indications that an accident occurred, judging by newspapers clippings Telly has in her hands. She has kept Sam's room as it was when he was alive.

Terry, on the other hand is being told by her psychiatrist that she is delusional. Sam never existed; Sam is a product of her imagination. Yet, Telly never lets go. She continues her search for the young son, but suddenly she is being persecuted by secret service men who want to put a stop to whatever she claims. Telly pays a visit to Ash, who is a father whose daughter was also in the ill fated flight, but she finds a drunk man, slowly killing himself with alcohol. Telly discovers a wall in his apartment that has been wall papered over, but it's clear the daughter painted the walls underneath the paper at one time.

Thus begins the quest in which Telly and Ash embark in their search for the truth. Little do they know what they have gotten into. The director takes us on a ride, that at times, makes a lot of sense, but then, we start questioning what we are seeing. The film is by no means a bad one, it's just the resolution that seems not to make much sense at all, unless we buy the twists and turns that Mr. Di Pego has concocted for us.

Joanne Moore makes an interesting choice for Telly. Ms. Moore, one of our best actress working in films today, is a beautiful presence that makes a credible woman that will not stop until she finds out what happened to her young son. Dominic West, as Ash, is also up to task. Both actors do great work together. The solid supporting cast is also interesting, Gary Sinise, Alfre Woodard, Anthony Edwards and the excellent Linus Roache, who alas, doesn't have anything to do in the film, with the exception of appearing out of nowhere, every now and then.

This is a film for Sci-Fi fans. They certainly will find more in it than the average viewer. The direction by Mr. Ruben is inspired and the different Brooklyn and New York area locations make a good background to the story. James Horner's music score is eerie and compliments the film, as well as the cinematography by Anastas Michos.