I’m not sure if it’s the outlandish plot, the sluggish dialogue filled scenes, or the confusing nature of the script that solidify abject failure for the 2014 effort “Before I go to Sleep,” but whatever the case may be, the 90 minute run time will seem like it never going to end, though you’ll want it to like nothing else you’ve ever wanted before.
Based on S.J. Watson’s novel of the same name, “Before I go to Sleep” does employ a concept that is at least a little intriguing albeit farfetched. Christine Lucas (Nicole Kidman) who suffered injuries in an apparent violent attack several years prior to the events of the film has a condition in which she loses her memory after waking up every morning.
The condition requires Christine to leave notes and photos around the house that identify her husband and quell the anxiety she faces each and every morning when she wakes up in a seemingly strange place with a strange man in her bed.
Fans of The Twilight Zone will appreciate the similarity to the episode “Person or Persons Unknown,” though S.J. Watson is no Rod Serling.
While cool sounding at first, when you stop to think about it its flat out absurd. Does Christine lose her memory every 24 hours? Or is it just after sleeping? What would happen if she took a nap during the day? Or pulled an all-nighter? Or travelled across the international date line?
Suspension of disbelief is needed for many films to exist, but when its a supposedly realistic story in all other facets, its tough to gloss over a plot hole of this magnitude.
The movie revolves around three primary characters – Christine, her sketchy husband Ben (Colin Firth), and her equally sketchy neurologist Dr. Nasch (Mark Strong). Firth and Strong are great. Both showcase superior acting talents with powerful performances that are enjoyable to witness. Each man captures the unique ability to play an inconspicuous character that is equal in both potentially good and potentially evil nature.
The bigger name Kidman is lackluster at best, unbelievable and frankly unlikeable in her role of Christine. Her aloofness is part of the plot but Firth and Strong have such obvious ulterior motives driving them you’ll find her damsel in distress routine to be quite tiresome and silly.
Dr. Nasch gives Christine instructions for a video diary which she uses to record what happens so she can remember the next day. Again, its a neat idea, but your mind will feel like its melting as the ping pong match of who caused the attack on Christine in the first place rages back and forth in seemingly every scene. Is it Ben? Dr. Nasch? Both? Neither??
Forty minutes in and you won’t even care, its just that boring.
Categorized as a drama, mystery, romance – which in itself is a strange and unusual combination of genres, “Sleep” also becomes something of an attempt at horror/thriller about midway through when Christine’s flashbacks of the attack make a veiled effort at being scary. Like the rest of the movie, the horror bid is futile and head scratching and completely out of place with the rest of the story.
If the attempt is to showcase the piercing eyes and cut jawbone of Firth, or the toned and taut deltoids of Strong fine. Stick with that and make it a romantic sap fest designed to have middle aged women swooning.
When you break off into a horde of ridiculous and unusual directions, any and all sense of style is lost for good. Hell even the title is cumbersome.
“Before I go to Sleep” should be renamed “Before You Watch Please Read this Review” – then after you read it, don’t watch it.
by – Matt Christopher
