Paycheck (HBO)

About Paycheck (HBO)

Paycheck is a 2003 sci-fi thriller film directed by John Woo, an adaptation of Philip K. Dick's short story from 1953. It revolves around Michael Jennings, a reverse engineer who wipes his memory for security purposes. After one big job, he finds his paycheck replaced by a bag of personal items which are clues to his future.

Making/Production

Directed by the legendary John Woo, Paycheck was a DreamWorks production. The movie, with a restrictive budget, was filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia to cut costs. Dean Georgaris scripted the movie from the Philip K. Dick short story.

Actors

• Ben Affleck as Michael Jennings. Affleck gives an engaging performance as the troubled engineer in a dystopian universe.
• Aaron Eckhart as James Rethrick. Eckhart convincingly plays the ruthless and calculating businessman.
• Uma Thurman as Rachel Porter. Thurman successfully portrays a biologist and Jennings' romantic interest with a sense of conviction and charm.

Trivia/Interesting Facts

• Due to the restrictive budget, Director John Woo had to forego using slow-motion gun fighting scenes, a signature cinematic style in his movies.
• Even though Ben Affleck had a double, he did most of his film stunts by himself.
• It was the first movie where John Woo used a digital backlot.

Awards

While the film did not win any major awards, it did earn nominations for its special effects and sound editing prowess.

Quotes

• "The future isn't just something that happens. It's a brutal force with a great sense of humor, and it'll steamroll you if you're not watching." – Michael Jennings.
• "Trust me, Mike: You don't remember what happened because you don't want to remember." – James Rethrick.

Music, Soundtrack

• "In the House - In a Heartbeat" by John Murphy
• "I Remember You" by Nat 'King' Cole