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The Forgotten (2004)
Released By: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment   Rating: PG-13   In Theaters: 9/24/2004
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Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Genre: Drama
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Joseph Ruben
Language: English
Official Website: http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/theforgotten/index.html
Theatrical Release: 9/24/2004
Home Video Release: 1/18/2005
Cast: Alfre Woodard, Anthony Edwards, Julianne Moore, Gary Sinise, Dominic West, Tim Kang
Published ID: 723533
UPC: 043396100787,
Plot: A grieving woman must make a journey into her past in this psychological thriller. Telly Paretta (Julianne Moore) is a mother who is struggling to put her life back together after the unexpected death of her eight-year-old son. Telly begins seeing a therapist (Gary Sinise) who offers a startling diagnosis -- that her son never really existed, and all her memories of the child are products of her imagination. When Telly meets a man with a strangely similar story to tell about his lost child (Dominic West), she becomes convinced that her doctor is wrong, and sets out to prove the existence of her child -- and that she isn't insane. The Forgotten also features Alfre Woodard and Anthony Edwards. An alternate ending exists to this film, which has been released on DVD and purportedly does a great deal to compensate for the story's weaknesses. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
IDDateTimeTitleReviewHelpfulVotesTotalVotes
A movie best forgotten?
Added 9/13/2009

"The Forgotten" is a science fiction movie featuring Julianne Moore, Dominic West and Gary Sinise.

The actors are good, the concept interesting, but the movie never delivers. Unfortunately, I have to agree with the critics: "The Forgotten" is a film best forgotten. It comes across as a second-rate "X Files" rip off.

The main character, Telly Paretta, has lost her son Sam in a plane crash. About a year later, all memories of Sam mysteriously vanishes, Telly's doctor tells her that she is delusional, and neither her husband nor her babysitter remembers anything. However, Telly finds one person who does remember: a former NHL player turned heavy drinker named Ash whose daughter was on the same plane. Together, they try to find out the truth about the missing children. Soon, both Telly and Ash are hunted by the National Security Agency. Before long, they realize that the federal government have struck a deal with a group of space aliens who abduct children to conduct weird experiments.

It would have worked in the hands of Chris Carter. In this production, the idea never really takes off. "The Forgotten" isn't even scary, and only the first part is psychologically interesting. The alien is very bland, and the only worked out characters are Telly and Ash. The end of the movie is ridiculous. I got the impression that the scriptwriter didn't really know how to end the movie, and invented a "Pamela and Bobby Ewing" kind of twist, just to end it all!

It's a real pity that "The Forgotten" wasn't better, especially since so many good actors participated in this project. In the end, it didn't satisfy anyone. It's too weird for a regular drama, too bland for science fiction, and not psychological enough for a psychological thriller.

And now...sports.

0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Not a bad movie at all!
Added 8/12/2009

I won't bore you with the finer details of the film... All I will say is this: it is not as bad as some people have made it out to be. The film is somewhat over dramatic, but Moore gives a very compelling performance as a grieving mother who has not forgotten a son, everyone keeps telling her she never had. This film does have a few good plot twists involving a government cover-up and alien abduction (spoiler) does play out well. The "original" ending does leave a little to be desired, as well as the alternate ending, included. All-in-all, this is a very decent film with a few good plot twists and some surprises thrown in... Check it out!

Finial thought, though... The only thing missing is Mulder and Scully from the "X-Files", which would made this a more fun movie to watch... Still, check it out!

0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Nice try
Added 6/27/2009

I missed this when it was new because the trailer made it look like a horror movie when in fact its an X-Files type story. While The Forgotten does not have the humor or chemistry of the best X-Files episodes, its ok. It escapes being predictable by being so implausible. When the whole thing is revealed, there is no explanation as to why anyone (or thing) would bother tampering with people's lives in this way. But even if you just want to watch Julianne Moore through a blue filter as she runs all over NY and NJ, with a soundtrack that sounds like Liz Story, its enjoyable.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Cinematic Alzheimer's...
Added 6/20/2009

THE FORGOTTEN is a creepy, paranoia inducing tale of memory loss, deception, government conspiracy, abduction, and possible insanity. Telly (Julianne Moore from Hannibal and Safe) is a mum who is 14 months into grieving for her dead son. Or is she? Pictures and videos of the boy begin disappearing, while those around her seem to have no memory of her son's having ever existed! This leads Telly on a quest for the truth, no matter how terrible or bizarre it may be. Ms. Moore is always a pleasure to watch, as her talents lift even the most preposterous material into the realm of believability. She is the heart and soul of THE FORGOTTEN. Without her earnest performance, this could have been yet another disaster like THE HAPPENING (well, maybe not THAT godawful)...
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
entertaining sci-fi concept
Added 4/8/2009

Other than a few flaws in logical continuity it has an excellant sci-fi/conspiracy concept. At times it was even comical. For UFO and X-File buffs I suspect it made their day.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
A movie best forgotten?
Added 9/13/2009

"The Forgotten" is a science fiction movie featuring Julianne Moore, Dominic West and Gary Sinise.

The actors are good, the concept interesting, but the movie never delivers. Unfortunately, I have to agree with the critics: "The Forgotten" is a film best forgotten. It comes across as a second-rate "X Files" rip off.

The main character, Telly Paretta, has lost her son Sam in a plane crash. About a year later, all memories of Sam mysteriously vanishes, Telly's doctor tells her that she is delusional, and neither her husband nor her babysitter remembers anything. However, Telly finds one person who does remember: a former NHL player turned heavy drinker named Ash whose daughter was on the same plane. Together, they try to find out the truth about the missing children. Soon, both Telly and Ash are hunted by the National Security Agency. Before long, they realize that the federal government have struck a deal with a group of space aliens who abduct children to conduct weird experiments.

It would have worked in the hands of Chris Carter. In this production, the idea never really takes off. "The Forgotten" isn't even scary, and only the first part is psychologically interesting. The alien is very bland, and the only worked out characters are Telly and Ash. The end of the movie is ridiculous. I got the impression that the scriptwriter didn't really know how to end the movie, and invented a "Pamela and Bobby Ewing" kind of twist, just to end it all!

It's a real pity that "The Forgotten" wasn't better, especially since so many good actors participated in this project. In the end, it didn't satisfy anyone. It's too weird for a regular drama, too bland for science fiction, and not psychological enough for a psychological thriller.

And now...sports.

0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Not a bad movie at all!
Added 8/12/2009

I won't bore you with the finer details of the film... All I will say is this: it is not as bad as some people have made it out to be. The film is somewhat over dramatic, but Moore gives a very compelling performance as a grieving mother who has not forgotten a son, everyone keeps telling her she never had. This film does have a few good plot twists involving a government cover-up and alien abduction (spoiler) does play out well. The "original" ending does leave a little to be desired, as well as the alternate ending, included. All-in-all, this is a very decent film with a few good plot twists and some surprises thrown in... Check it out!

Finial thought, though... The only thing missing is Mulder and Scully from the "X-Files", which would made this a more fun movie to watch... Still, check it out!

0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Nice try
Added 6/27/2009

I missed this when it was new because the trailer made it look like a horror movie when in fact its an X-Files type story. While The Forgotten does not have the humor or chemistry of the best X-Files episodes, its ok. It escapes being predictable by being so implausible. When the whole thing is revealed, there is no explanation as to why anyone (or thing) would bother tampering with people's lives in this way. But even if you just want to watch Julianne Moore through a blue filter as she runs all over NY and NJ, with a soundtrack that sounds like Liz Story, its enjoyable.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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