Premonition
In her downbeat film, “Premonition,” the troubled character played by Sandra Bullock should be seeking a life coach. In real life, the talented Bullock should be searching for a career adviser. She may soon need one to help save her film career.
In the flimsy psychological thriller, rated PG-13, Bullock plays Linda Hanson, a woman who’s married, has two daughters and – at least on the surface – appears to be living the American dream. Her world changes forever after she’s told that her husband, Jim (Julian McMahon of TV’s “Nip/Tuck”), has been killed in a fiery car crash.
The next morning, however, Linda finds her husband alive and well. The woman quickly realizes that she has had a premonition and becomes frightened that she might not be able to stop fate from claiming her spouse.
Linda’s resolve to save him wavers once she discovers that part of his future plans may include an affair with a beautiful blonde from his office.
Bullock, who became a superstar thanks to fun-to-watch roles in hits such as “While You Were Sleeping,” “Two Weeks Notice” and “Miss Congeniality,” has taken a different path in the last few months.
With her previous film, “The Lake House,” which featured a re-teaming with her “Speed” co-star, Keanu Reeves, Bullock plays a woman separated from the perfect man by a space-time continuum that keeps their lives running parallel in different years. Reeves and Bullock finally get together just in time for the end credits to roll in the relentlessly non-involving “Lake House,” a box-office disappointment.
Likewise with “Premonition,” the character spends an inordinate amount of time looking glum and running in circles. Something in the material obviously attracted Bullock, but debuting director Mennan Yapo never adds any urgency and makes the picture seem like a combination of a soap opera, “Twilight Zone” episode and Dr. Phil marriage-encounter seminar.
The film, which features strong supporting performers such as Nia Long (“The Best Man”), Kate Nelligan (“Eye of the Needle”) and Peter Stormare (“Fargo”), offers a twist ending, but that conclusion feels recycled since it echoes the finish of the underrated Kevin Costner supernatural romance “Dragonfly” (2002).
Certainly Bullock is at a point in her career where she can stretch, as the 42-year-old actress did as part of the ensemble in the Oscar-winning “Crash.” Unfortunately, “Premonition” ranks as a giant step backwards, since it boasts the feel of a cable movie, not a major motion picture.
The next step Bullock should take is towards a new management team, one that understands her talents and respects her fans and will help her get out of the shadows and back into the limelight.
FILM REVIEW
“Premonition”
Grade: C
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Julian McMahon, Nia Long, Kate Nelligan and Peter Stormare; written by Bill Kelly; produced by Ashok Amritraj, Jon Jashni, Adam Shankman, Jennifer Gibgot and Sunil Perkash; directed by Mennan Yapo.
Running Time: 101 minutes.
Parental Guide: PG-13 rating (harsh four-letter profanity, sexual elements, adult themes, unsettling images).
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