ThrillerMysteryScience FictionDramaActionHorrorAdventure

The Forgotten

- You'll Never Forget The Ones You Love

Telly Paretta is a grieving mother struggling to cope with the loss of her 8-year-old son. She is stunned when her psychiatrist reveals that she has created eight years of memories about a son she never had. But when she meets a man who has had a similar experience, Telly embarks on a search to prove her son's existence, and her sanity.

Release Date : 2004-09-24

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Visual Arts EntertainmentRevolution StudiosJinks/Cohen Company

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Telly Paretta

Original Name : Julianne Moore

Gender : Female

Character Name : Ash Correll

Original Name : Dominic West

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dr. Munce

Original Name : Gary Sinise

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jim Paretta

Original Name : Anthony Edwards

Gender : Male

Character Name : Det. Anne Pope

Original Name : Alfre Woodard

Gender : Female

Character Name : A Friendly Man

Original Name : Linus Roache

Gender : Male

Character Name : Carl Dayton

Original Name : Robert Wisdom

Gender : Male

Character Name : Eliot

Original Name : Jessica Hecht

Gender : Female

Character Name : Sam

Original Name : Christopher Kovaleski

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sam at 5

Original Name : Matthew Pleszewicz

Gender : Male

Character Name : Library Clerk

Original Name : Katie Cooper

Gender : Female

Character Name : Cop

Original Name : Scott Nicholson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cop

Original Name : P.J. Morrison

Gender : Male

Character Name : Agent Alec Wong

Original Name : Tim Kang

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lauren Correll

Original Name : Kathryn Faughnan

Gender : Female

Character Name : Brasher

Original Name : Felix Solis

Gender : Male

Character Name : Agent Lisa Franks

Original Name : Susan Misner

Gender : Female

Character Name : Al Petalis

Original Name : Lee Tergesen

Gender : Male

Character Name : Gas Station Attendant

Original Name : Ken Abraham

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sheriff Howell

Original Name : J. Tucker Smith

Gender : Male

Character Name : Eileen the Accountant

Original Name : Ann Dowd

Gender : Female

Character Name : Child Walking with Mother (uncredited)

Original Name : Brielle Barbusca

Gender : Female

Character Name : Mrs. Munce (uncredited)

Original Name : Kathrina Miccio

Gender : Female

Character Name : NSA Agent (uncredited)

Original Name : Frank Stellato

Gender : Male

Character Name : Additional Voices (voice) (uncredited)

Original Name : Zoë Raye

Gender : Female

Reviews

Wuchak

@Wuchak

2021-06-23

Love vs. cold analytical thought RELEASED IN 2004 and directed by Joseph Ruben, "The Forgotten" relays the story of Telly (Julianne Moore), a mother who discovers all traces of her deceased 9 year-old son have been erased, including photos, videos, documents and the memories of other people. Her psychologist (Gary Sinise) and husband tell her she's delusional, but she KNOWS otherwise. Thus begins a thrilling search for the truth wherein she teams-up with Ash (Dominic West) and tangles with NSA agents and more. The reviews to “The Forgotten” couldn't be more opposite, which isn't necessarily a bad thing since some of the best artistic items polarize opinion. The film admittedly has weaknesses and those who don’t like it zero-in on these flaws. In style, it is similar to "The Mothman Prophesies" (2002), but not as good, intricate or artistic. There are similarities to The X-Files with the two protagonists, one being a female redhead, searching for the truth in what is essentially a sci-fi/mystery tale with the government somehow being involved. Because of the highly mixed reviews I was watching the first 15 minutes only half-attentive, but when Telly (Moore) confronts Ash (West) and subsequently teams-up with him my attention perked up. Ash is an ex-NHL player who's given up on life and turned to alcohol to drown out his sorrows. What tragic event happened that would cause him to throw in the towel and turn to the bottle? I'll leave that to you to discover. Anyway, remember the great masculine actors of the past, like Charlton Heston, Clint Eastwood, Burt Reynolds and perhaps even Marlon Brando? There was just something about them that set ’em apart and made you take notice when they were on screen. Dominic West is such an actor. He's reminiscent of James Remar, whom you might remember as Ajax in "The Warriors" (1979). The subplot of Ash's drunkenness struck a chord with me because I know people, incredibly talented people like Ash, who've essentially given up and given in to alcohol, wasting their lives away. Not to mention the fact that I've been seriously tempted to give up as well at times (albeit not to alcohol). I can relate and I'm sure you can too. As noted, the film is a sci-fi/mystery tale and therefore the explanation (no spoilers) is rather outlandish, but not necessarily unbelievable. "Flightplan" (2005) was a similarly-themed film; although its explanation was not outlandish, just totally unbelievable. So if you can't handle outlandishness I suggest you forget "The Forgotten." "The Forgotten" is essentially a story of love v.s. cold analytical thought. Personally I fall right in the middle between these two dynamics. This conflict is what made the character of Spock so fascinating. Remember the Star Trek episode "This Side of Paradise" where he was able to walk free of his strict adherence to logic and experience the warmth & joy of love for the first time? At the end of the episode he sadly states that it was the first time in his life that he was truly happy. "The Forgotten" is a story of tortuous struggle and potential triumph, for both Telly and Ash. Although logic is important, love is more powerful. Not to mention warmer and life-inducing. The film is short and sweet at a mere 1 hour and 26 minutes before credits. The DVD features an extended cut with an alternative ending wherein the possible conspiracy is less malevolent. Watch the theatrical cut first and then simply go to the deleted scenes section and watch the two deleted scenes and the alternate ending (unless you want to watch the ENTIRE film twice, that is; it's just not necessary). I'll say this: the kissing scene should have never been omitted. It works. But perhaps the filmmakers didn't want to paint Telly as a potential adulterer, which isn't a bad thing. Don't listen to the grumps who didn't 'get' "The Forgotten." The reason they didn't 'get' it is because their pendulum veers too heavily toward cold logic, but they don't have to stay that way. :) THE MOVIE RUNS 1 hour, 39 minutes and was shot in the New York City area. WRITER: Gerald Di Pego. GRADE: B/B-