Before I Go To Sleep

Based on a novel by S.J. Watson, Nicole Kidman stars as Christine – a woman who was found beaten and suffering from massive head injuries, which have caused amnesia. She has no memory of her past, and, each day, her husband, Ben (Colin Firth), has to remind her about their marriage and her condition. Then, when she goes to sleep, she forgets it all and starts from square one the next morning.

However, Christine secretly has been working with a psychologist, Dr.Nasch (Mark Strong), who is trying to help her remember the details of her life and the attack, especially since the perpetrator was never found and Ben seems to always discourage her from pursuing the truth (that will send your suspicious mind into overdrive).

Of course, Christine has started to get flashbacks, and her past is FREAKY DEAKY!

What happened?

Who committed the crime that left her like this?

Writer/director Rowan Joffe delivers a popcorn chomping, soap opera movie with enough surprises and intrigue to overcome the faults because we are all caught up in the messy web of deceit and mystery. It’s kind of fun even as we mock the silly parts.

Firth is great as the loving husband who keeps the audience questioning his motives. Ben always seems to be acting strangely, yet, can come up with very reasonable excuses, stories and motivations to assuage our fears. Most of this is because Firth knows how to toy with the audience by adding enough earnestness to make us want to like the suffering hubby who painfully holds true to his vow to only let death do us part, but also tosses in a dash of mischievousness to make the guy look guilty as sin.

Even Strong is very good as the (too?) helpful psychologist who sounds downright evil whenever he calls on the phone or has a heart to heart with Christine. That voice is worth millions for Strong, and he shows you how to use it to maximum effectiveness in a movie where he too must leave the audience questioning Dr. Nasch’s motives and intentions.

Meanwhile, Kidman is the most forgettable actor in Before I Go To Sleep. It’s not that she stinks, but Kidman is going along with the flow, dutifully delivering whatever emotion is needed, but never making a huge impact. She’s competent in a movie where the plot twists and surprises are more essential than her.

Joffe has plenty of trouble keeping the timeline straight in Before I Go To Sleep, and some editing is needed to end the movie quicker instead of drawing out the inevitable, unnecessary and sappy moment Joffe and Kidman must have been lobbying to film.

Before I Go To Sleep is rated R for some brutal violence and language.