The Forgotten

The concept of erasing memory has fascinated Hollywood of late, although this ambitious thriller approaches it on a far larger scale than ‘Code 46’ or ‘Confessions of a Dangerous Mind’. Grieving mother Telly (Julianne Moore) is convinced that the memories of her husband, friends and neighbours have been wiped when none of them recalls the death of a planeload of schoolchildren, among them her son Sam. Fleeing accusations of insanity, she investigates her conspiracy theories with a man she remembers to be a fellow parent. An intriguing premise, a strong lead and a confident pace help this tick along, but crashingly obvious exposition and dialogue lower the tone. As commercial melodrama, this entertains but fails as a conspiracy thriller, neglecting plot development in favour of action and analysis in favour of hysteria.