If you haven’t seen (and still intend to see) Knowing, skip this, but if you have (or don’t), I have a question:
Basic gist: Earth is gonna get roasted. Aliens come and pick up the “chosen ones”, presumably kids. (Or maybe just vegetarians?)
When the Aliens come and pick up all of the kids, how do they decide the age cut off? If you JUST turned seven, do they leave you to burn with everyone else? Seems a little bit extreme.
I just had the awful thought that Proyas left a ton of footage on the cutting room floors, one kid, bawling inconsolably at his birthday party (while everyone ignites).
[Scrippet]
INT. EDITING ROOM – DAY
Richard Learoyd, the editor, and Alex Proyas, the director, sit in a large editing suite. Footage from the movie KNOWING plays silently in the background.
LEAROYD
About that birthday scene.
PROYAS
Magnificent, isn’t it?
LEAROYD
Well…
PROYAS
I thought the CGI of that one kid’s burning face was off, but the soul raking screaming really sold it. Terrific voice actor.
ALEX
I think we should cut it.
PROYAS
[stunned silence]
LEAROYD
You know…gotta kill your darlings.
PROYAS
Yeah, EXACTLY! That’s why–
LEAROYD
Figuratively, Alex.[/Scrippet]
p.s. Ebert wrote a really interesting article about the central question of this debate, do we live in a deterministic or entirely random existence. Worth reading, here:
http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2009/03/a_roll_of_whose_dice.html