Paycheck
From Metaverse
Michael Jennings is a brilliant computer engineer who wakes up one morning and does not remember the last three years of his life. He has agreed to a 90 million dollar job in which he will assist in a top secret project for his long time friend Jimmy Rethrick. After the three years have past,he is informed that he has forfeitted his pay in exchange for 19 objects in a manila envelope. As the story unfolds Jennings is assisted by his love Rachel (Uma Thurman) in trying to find the real answers as to why Jimmy is trying to kill him.
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Characters
- Ben Affleck - Micheal Jennings is a computer engineer who is hired to work on top secret projects for large corporations. He does this knowing that when the project is complete his memory will be erased.
- Aaron Eckhart - James Rethrick (Jimmy) Jennings long time friend and boss who assigned him to work on the top secret project.
- Uma Thurman - Dr. Rachel Porter is a biologist who Jennings spent the last three years working with as well as dating. She becomes a major help to him in the movie after she assists him in remembering the love they shared.
- Paul Giamatti - Shorty is a long time friend of Jennings who helps with erasing his memory in the beginning of the film. He plays a part in helping the fight against Rethrick and the FBI.
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Themes, Symbols, Motifs
- Paycheck exhibits many qualities of the cyberpunk genre. Paycheck was set to end in 2007. This being the near future corresponds to the characteristics of a cyber punk film. Jennings had his memory erased numerous times after projects so that he did not have recollection of top secrets. By using computer devices the human brain is bieng altered so that he does not remember his life. There is a distinct control ahead of him by the corporation and by the government. Both the FBI and Jimmy are trying to kill him.
- Identity is a recurring theme throughout the movie Paycheck. Jennings is constantly taking on jobs that require him to have his memory erased at the end of them. After having his memory erased he has no recollection of past years , things he has done, people he has met, or dated etc. He is essentially living a "Double Life".
- Foreshadowing is a theme that shows up in the plot of the movie as well as in the theme of the movie. Jennings builds the machine that can predict or see the future. When he see's his future he forfeits his money giving himself objects that he knows will help him in the future. There are many hints in the movie that allow the viewers to predict what will happen next. These hints are set up in the scene before in order for the viewer to think about it and get excited about what to expect coming. Most of these foreshadowings have to do with the objects that Jennings has put into his manila envelope.
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Discussion Questions
- Following the theme of Identity how is it possible for Jennings to even have an identity of his own? If he constantly had his memory erased then how can he live a normal life knowing exactly who and what kind of person he was?
- The Matrix and Minority Report share many same characteristics of the movie "Paycheck". How does the theme of destiny and fate commonly found in these two movies relate to the movie Paycheck?
- Paycheck seems to have many of the characteristics of a cyber punk film, it is set in the future, there is a totalitarian control etc. , In what way could Jennings be considered a hacker or a warrior in order to solidify the title "Cyber Punk"?
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