Cinema Consults: THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT

This film, which can be rentedfrom your local video store, israted on a scale of 1 to 4 caducei:

THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT

The Butterfly Effect

(2004): The conceptof time travelis so fascinatingthat we find ourselvesreturning toit again and againin scientific speculation,literature,and of course film.If we could goback in time andchange something,would we? And if we did, whatwould be the side effects? DirectorsEric Bress and J. Mackye Gruberponder these questions in the scientific-thriller, . In thisfilm, Evan Treborn (Ashton Kutcher)suffers from long periods of memoryloss as a child. These incidents seemto coincide with traumatic and lifechangingmoments, and leave Evangrappling with doubt and guilt overthe deep suffering experienced by hisfriends and loved ones. In order tocope with this sporadic amnesia,Evan keeps journals—documentsthat will later help him confront thepossibility of time travel. The pervadingtheme in this movie is that everyaction has consequences, even if theycannot be foreseen at the time.Although I find this premise to be fascinating,the movie ultimately spinsout of control and leaves the viewerwith a hasty and ultimately unsatisfyingending. I applaud Kutcher fortrying his hand at a dramatic role,but this vehicle won't take him veryfar. Better luck next time.

Rating: 1.5

Lisa A. Tomaszewski,managing editor

of Physician's Money Digest, is currently

working on her PhD in literature at

Drew University in New Jersey. She is

an avid fan of film and has taught a

summer film course at Fairleigh

Dickinson University. She welcomes

questions, comments, or suggestions for

future film reviews at 732-656-1140

ext 195 or ltomaszewski@mwc.com.