Paycheck

Michael Jennings is a brilliant reverse engineer who erases his memory after completing lucrative, top-secret projects. When he wakes up after a job for the mysterious Allcom corporation with a cryptic envelope of everyday objects, he realizes he's signed up for something far more dangerous than he can recall. Pursued by the authorities and Allcom's ruthless CEO, Jennings must decipher the clues left by his past self to uncover the truth and survive.

Paycheck received generally mixed to negative reviews from critics, who often found its plot convoluted and its action sequences uninspired. While some appreciated the high-concept premise and the cast's efforts, the film was widely seen as a disappointment, failing to live up to the potential of its source material or director's previous works.

• The film's intriguing premise is undermined by a predictable plot and generic action.
• John Woo's signature directorial style is largely absent, resulting in a lifeless thriller.
• Ben Affleck delivers a serviceable performance, but the supporting cast is underutilized.

Google audience: Audiences found the movie to be an entertaining, if not particularly groundbreaking, science fiction thriller. Many enjoyed the concept of memory erasure and the chase sequences, though some felt the plot became too convoluted and the ending was unsatisfying.

Philip K. Dick, the author of the original short story, was notoriously critical of Hollywood adaptations of his work, but he died in 1982, long before 'Paycheck' was made. His daughter, Isa Dick Hackett, served as an executive producer on the film.