The Final Cut

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The Final Cut

PG-13

2004

1h 35m

Sci-Fi

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Popcornmeter

37%

Tomatometer

79 Reviews

45%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

In the future, microchips in people's heads record their experiences. Alan Hakman (Robin Williams), a "cutter," edits footage from immoral dead people into pleasing narratives. Alan is troubled by childhood memories and has a difficult relationship with a bookstore clerk (Mira Sorvino). Fletcher (James Caviezel), an ex-cutter, offers Alan $500,000 for footage of a prominent technology manager. Alan refuses, but when he tries to destroy the footage, he learns a dark secret about himself.

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Critics Consensus

The Final Cut fails to make compelling use of its intriguing premise and talented cast, settling for a middling sci-fi drama that never justifies its pretensions.

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Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

Forgive me, but The Final Cut should really be the one where you turn off the camera and go do something far more interesting; like maybe taking out the garbage.

Rated: 2/4

Oct 23, 2004

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Richard Roeper

Ebert & Roeper

It's nice to see Mira Sorvino who has sort of wobbled about since winning the Oscar about ten years ago she is very good in this film.

Oct 19, 2004

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Williams has extraordinary success in channeling this other person. How strange that the same actor can play some of the most uninhibited of all characters, and some of the most morose.

Rated: 3/4

Oct 15, 2004

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Grant Watson

Fiction Machine

When viewed with patience and a somewhat forgiving eye, it presents an intriguing and morally ambiguous story.

Rated: 6/10

May 14, 2020

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Felix Vasquez Jr.

Cinema Crazed

A sleepy, boring, and utterly forgettable thriller...

Apr 29, 2009

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Peter T. Chattaway

Christianity Today

Most significantly, the film underscores the fact that the meaning of our lives ultimately comes from somewhere outside of ourselves.

Rated: 2.5/4

Sep 22, 2006

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Stephen C

Success in 1 hour and 35 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $548,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/14/25

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mark g

So tedious and poorly done. Williams is invested, but that's about it.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

07/11/24

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georgan g

Great acting by Robin Williams. Intriguing premise. However, I did not understand how this movie ended. Even watched parts of it twice, thinking I'd missed something. Just never came together, to my disappointment.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Kyle M

On the one hand you have an intriguing scientific idea that was conceptualized and established the surrounding rules that were made to be morally broken, then on the other you have a man under self-inner therapy looking for resolving redemption. Overall indecisive switching between two storylines concurrently whenever convenient for the plot's progression whilst supported by dialogues that were written to baselessly complicate the events and undermine the stars involved, wherein their acting shows unsure and occasional confidence with sensed deliverance. Robin Williams in one of his few serious roles he'd taken within that decade have proven his capability of meeting a role's emotional expectation and witty execution stemmed from the self, then imprinting aesthetically. A more memorable presence let down by the story's ideal limitation kept from further exploration regarding its concept or to go in an actual thrilling direction that's within hidden potential. (B-)

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

10/08/22

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colin m

A good movie. I don't understand why others haven't scored this higher.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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joel h

The Final Cut probably should have gone through a couple more drafts before being released. The plot is thought-provoking, but it feels like a half-baked idea that never gets out of second gear. It's also ironic that this movie all about film editing suffers from distracting cuts and uneven pacing. The ending of this movie surprised me, not because of any twist, but because I thought it had more story to tell.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Omar Naim

Director

Robin Williams

Alan Hakman

Mira Sorvino

Delila

Jim Caviezel

Fletcher

Mimi Kuzyk

Thelma

Tarek Bishara

Hasan

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Synopsis

In the future, microchips in people's heads record their experiences. Alan Hakman (Robin Williams), a "cutter," edits footage from immoral dead people into pleasing narratives. Alan is troubled by childhood memories and has a difficult relationship with a bookstore clerk (Mira Sorvino). Fletcher (James Caviezel), an ex-cutter, offers Alan $500,000 for footage of a prominent technology manager. Alan refuses, but when he tries to destroy the footage, he learns a dark secret about himself.

Director: Omar Naim
Producer: Nick Wechsler
Screenwriter: Omar Naim
Distributor: Lions Gate Entertainment, Lionsgate Films
Production Co: Industry Entertainment, Cinerenta Medienbeteiligungs KG, Lions Gate Films
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Sci-Fi, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 15, 2004, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 6, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $548.0K
Runtime: 1h 35m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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