Paycheck: Difference between revisions

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{{work|wppage=Paycheck (film)}}
{{trope}}
Michael Jennings has a great job. He's a reverse engineer, paid huge sums of money to figure out how rival technology works and improve on it. In exchange for his massive paycheck, he must have his memory wiped to prevent any information leaks. Life is good.
Michael Jennings has a great job. He's a reverse engineer, paid huge sums of money to figure out how rival technology works and improve on it. In exchange for his massive paycheck, he must have his memory wiped to prevent any information leaks. Life is good.


His latest project at Allcom was supposed to be his biggest yet, lasting three years and earning him enough money to finally retire - but something has gone wrong. His 8-figure payment has been replaced by a manila envelope full of random odds and ends. The FBI wants to talk to him about his apparent involvement in the death of another engineer. And a lot of people are trying to kill him. Now Jennings finds himself in the strange position of having to reverse engineer his own future... before time runs out.
His latest project at Allcom was supposed to be his biggest yet, lasting three years and earning him enough money to finally retire - but something has gone wrong. His 8-figure payment has been replaced by a manila envelope full of random odds and ends. The FBI wants to talk to him about his apparent involvement in the death of another engineer. And a lot of people are trying to kill him. Now Jennings finds himself in the strange position of having to reverse engineer his own future... before time runs out.


''[[Paycheck]]'' (2003) is a film adaptation of the [[Philip K Dick]] short story of the same name, starring Ben Affleck, Uma Thurman, Paul Giamatti, and Aaron Eckhart, and directed by [[John Woo]]. It was received poorly by critics, but made about $30 million more than its budget back at the box office.
''[[Paycheck]]'' (2003) is a film adaptation of the [[Philip K. Dick]] short story of the same name, starring Ben Affleck, Uma Thurman, Paul Giamatti, and Aaron Eckhart, and directed by [[John Woo]]. It was received poorly by critics, but made about $30 million more than its budget back at the box office.

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{{tropelist}}
=== ''Paycheck'' contains examples of: ===
* [[Actor Allusion]]: In this movie, [[Uma Thurman]] plays a biologist who works in a garden / lab where she can call wind, rain and lightning. In previous films she has played [[Batman and Robin (Film)|Poison Ivy]] and [[The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (Film)|the goddess Aphrodite]].
* [[Actor Allusion]]: In this movie, [[Uma Thurman]] plays a biologist who works in a garden / lab where she can call wind, rain and lightning. In previous films she has played [[Batman and Robin (film)|Poison Ivy]] and [[The Adventures of Baron Munchausen|the goddess Aphrodite]].
* [[Aerosol Flamethrower]]
* [[Aerosol Flamethrower]]
* [[Call to Agriculture]]
* [[Call to Agriculture]]
* ~Chekhov's Armoury~: The envelope that Jennings substituted for his paycheck, though this one borders on [[Deconstruction]].
* [[Chekhov's Armoury]]: The envelope that Jennings substituted for his paycheck, though this one borders on [[Deconstruction]].
* ~Chekhov's Gun~: Every item in the envelope, including a single bullet but no gun. Gets fired anyway, of course.
* [[Chekhov's Gun]]: Every item in the envelope, including a single bullet but no gun. Gets fired anyway, of course.
** Also, the remote-controlled grabbing device in Rachel's lab, along with her thunder, lightning, and wind effects.
** Also, the remote-controlled grabbing device in Rachel's lab, along with her thunder, lightning, and wind effects.
* ~Chekhov's Skill~: In the beginning of the film there is a short scene of Jennings training at the gym, hitting targets with a staff. Guess how he beats up mooks near the ending?
* [[Chekhov's Skill]]: In the beginning of the film there is a short scene of Jennings training at the gym, hitting targets with a staff. Guess how he beats up mooks near the ending?
* [[Cool Bike]]: The BMW R 1150R Rockster utilized in a chase scene. Which, of course, Jennings had bought ahead of time.
* [[Cool Bike]]: The BMW R 1150R Rockster utilized in a chase scene. Which, of course, Jennings had bought ahead of time.
* [[Disturbed Doves]]: Goes without saying. [[John Woo]]'s trademark.
* [[Disturbed Doves]]: Goes without saying. [[John Woo]]'s trademark.
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* [[Hot Scientist]]: Michael Jennings meets a beautiful woman at a fancy dinner who turns out to be a biologist.
* [[Hot Scientist]]: Michael Jennings meets a beautiful woman at a fancy dinner who turns out to be a biologist.
* [[Intangible Time Travel]]: The time scope.
* [[Intangible Time Travel]]: The time scope.
* [[It May Help You On Your Quest]]: A rare film example. Justified here, through convoluted means, in that the character knew exactly what was going to happen in the future and when (see [[Note to Self]], below).
* [[It May Help You on Your Quest]]: A rare film example. Justified here, through convoluted means, in that the character knew exactly what was going to happen in the future and when (see [[Note to Self:]], below).
* [[Large Ham]]: Renthrick. See [[Narm]] below.
* [[Large Ham]]: Renthrick. See [[Narm]] below.
* [[Laser-Guided Amnesia]]: Literally.
* [[Laser-Guided Amnesia]]: Literally.
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* [[Mexican Standoff]]: It's a [[John Woo]] film after all.
* [[Mexican Standoff]]: It's a [[John Woo]] film after all.
* [[Mood Whiplash]]: An assassin attempt to take a shot at Jennings from behind his newspaper disguise while in a subway station. Then, suddenly, a small kid with a toy revolver approaches the assassin in disguise, and "shoots" him (saying something along the lines of "Bang! Bang! You're dead!"). The assassin, however, ignores him and takes out his long badass silenced pistol ([[BFG]]) to take aim at Jennings. The kid only seems [[Unusually Uninteresting Sight|annoyed]].
* [[Mood Whiplash]]: An assassin attempt to take a shot at Jennings from behind his newspaper disguise while in a subway station. Then, suddenly, a small kid with a toy revolver approaches the assassin in disguise, and "shoots" him (saying something along the lines of "Bang! Bang! You're dead!"). The assassin, however, ignores him and takes out his long badass silenced pistol ([[BFG]]) to take aim at Jennings. The kid only seems [[Unusually Uninteresting Sight|annoyed]].
* [[Note to Self]]: Made a bit difficult, as the only things Jennings could sneak out were innocuous items.
* [[Note to Self:]]: Made a bit difficult, as the only things Jennings could sneak out were innocuous items.
* [[Ontological Mystery]]
* [[Ontological Mystery]]
* [[Plot Tailored to The Party]]
* [[Plot Tailored to the Party]]
* [[Quest for Identity]]
* [[Quest for Identity]]
* [[Retroactive Preparation]]: A variant. Jennings doesn't have a time machine, but he ''did'' have access to the time portal.
* [[Retroactive Preparation]]: A variant. Jennings doesn't have a time machine, but he ''did'' have access to the time portal.
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* [[Someday This Will Come in Handy]]: Inverted. Jennings was working from (temporary) foreknowledge of his own future, and after his memory wipe he has to figure out what is needed where.
* [[Someday This Will Come in Handy]]: Inverted. Jennings was working from (temporary) foreknowledge of his own future, and after his memory wipe he has to figure out what is needed where.
* [[Spotting the Thread]]
* [[Spotting the Thread]]
* [[Tricked Out Time]]: The characters can do all sorts of stuff knowing it already happened, then go back and undergo a memory wipe.
* [[Tricked-Out Time]]: The characters can do all sorts of stuff knowing it already happened, then go back and undergo a memory wipe.
* [[Viewer Friendly Interface]]: Every computer in this movie.
* [[Viewer-Friendly Interface]]: Every computer in this movie.
* [[Wealthy Ever After]]
* [[Wealthy Ever After]]
* [[With This Herring]]: Subverted.
* [[With This Herring]]: Subverted.
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[[Category:Films of the 2000s]]
[[Category:Films of the 2000s]]
[[Category:Paycheck]]
[[Category:Paycheck]]
[[Category:Trope]]
[[Category:John Woo]]
[[Category:Science Fiction Films]]
[[Category:Films Based on Short Stories]]
[[Category:Pages with working Wikipedia tabs]]
[[Category:Film]]

Latest revision as of 01:29, 3 October 2020

Michael Jennings has a great job. He's a reverse engineer, paid huge sums of money to figure out how rival technology works and improve on it. In exchange for his massive paycheck, he must have his memory wiped to prevent any information leaks. Life is good.

His latest project at Allcom was supposed to be his biggest yet, lasting three years and earning him enough money to finally retire - but something has gone wrong. His 8-figure payment has been replaced by a manila envelope full of random odds and ends. The FBI wants to talk to him about his apparent involvement in the death of another engineer. And a lot of people are trying to kill him. Now Jennings finds himself in the strange position of having to reverse engineer his own future... before time runs out.

Paycheck (2003) is a film adaptation of the Philip K. Dick short story of the same name, starring Ben Affleck, Uma Thurman, Paul Giamatti, and Aaron Eckhart, and directed by John Woo. It was received poorly by critics, but made about $30 million more than its budget back at the box office.

Tropes used in Paycheck include:
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