Today’s quick review: Awake. A man (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) wakes up after a car crash with no memory of who he is. When a body is found in his trunk, FBI agent Frank Ward (Malik Yoba) becomes convinced that he is the serial killer who has been operating in the area. But before Frank can question him, the man escapes from the hospital with his nurse Diana (Francesca Eastwood) as hostage and sets out to recover his identity and prove his innocence.
Awake is a budget crime movie about an amnesiac accused of being a serial killer. John Doe must convince Diana, the police, and himself that, in spite of the evidence, things are not as they seem. Awake has a promising setup, but its execution leaves something to be desired. Even though it avoids the worst mistakes of the budget crime genre, the combination of flimsy plot logic, mediocre characters, and weak clues makes it a lackluster watch.
Awake’s chief problems come from its plot logic. The broad strokes of the plot work well enough, but the details are questionable. Every time the plot moves in a new direction, it’s a gamble whether Awake will handle the transition smoothly or trip over itself. Weak character motivations, a couple of minor plot holes, and a handful of awkwardly written conversations take the viewer out of the story just when it should be getting interesting.
Otherwise, Awake is a reasonably competent crime movie that just sticks to the basics. Nearly every aspect of the movie is adequate to tell the story Awake is trying to tell, but not imaginative enough to truly excel. That goes for the truth behind the murders, the relationship between John and Diana, and how John copes with his amnesia. The movie hangs together enough to be watchable, but it misses many opportunities to do more with its premise.
Awake is a fine pick by budget movie standards, but it has little to separate it from the crowd. Missed opportunities and a flawed script keep it from realizing its potential. As such, most viewers would be better off with a true thriller, a full-blown action movie, or a mystery with a better plot. For a budget crime movie about a criminal with amnesia, try 4Got10. For an action movie about a criminal on the run with his nurse, try Point Blank.
5.0 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 5.5 for a basic plot and shaky execution.