(hayden-christensen.com) - Awake is a dramatic thriller about a young financial tycoon Clay Beresford (Hayden Christensen) having to deal with still being conscious yet paralyzed while undergoing surgery. While in this condition referred to as "anesthetic awareness," Clay gets insight into his past and those that are most dearest to him.
Well, enough of my makeshift DVD back cover synopsis. The move started out slow but worked well in building a sense of character development and the strong ties among the leading characters. The pace of the movie was well done, and built up suspense as the movie progressed. Notable was the cinematography where the film captured the style and sophistication of Manhattan, New York.
The movie was well cast with a notable performance by Terrance Howard who played the close friend, Dr. Jack Harper. Both Hayden Christensen and Jessica Alba (the fiancé) both showed great on screen chemistry. I have to admit, there were parts that did make me chuckle a bit, such as when Clay realizes he should already be under deep sleep which reminded me of the early 90's Fox comedy Herman's Head. Hayden is convincing in the pain he feels physically during the operation and the anguish he goes through while walking throughout his past memories like a ghost. Overall, it was nice to watch a movie where time was invested in the plot, casting, and filming. I would give this film a solid 4 out of 5 stars.
See the Gallery for Awake - Screen Saptures.





