History Film / Paycheck

His latest project at Allcom was supposed to be his biggest yet, lasting ''three years''(which were wiped upon completion) but earning him enough money to finally retire.... but something has gone wrong. His 8-figure payment has been forfeited in favour of a manila envelope full of random odds and ends. The FBI wants to talk to him about his apparent involvement in the death of another engineer. A lot of people are trying to kill him. Now Jennings finds himself in the strange position of having to reverse-engineer his own future... before time runs out.

* AdaptationalVillainy: In the original short story, the only real threat for Jennings comes from the security police, not from Rethrick (who after the end of Jennings' contract actually offers him to work for the company again at any time). In the adaptation it's almost inverted - to the extent that Rethrick seems to be motivated primarily by ForTheEvulz.

* PlotTailoredToTheParty: As a reverse engineer, Jennings is uniquely suited to analyze the numerous potential bad futures and give himself innocuous-looking doodads to allow himself to survive.

###a length of fine wire - [[spoiler:used to break the lock in the security police cruiser]].
###a ticket stub - [[spoiler:from his journey to the plant - allowed Jennings to learn the whereabouts of the facility]].
###a green strip of cloth - [[spoiler:typically worn as a sign of a temporary worker at the Rethrick's plant; allows Jennings to mingle with the workers]].

###a bus token - same context as in the film;
###a code key - in a small twist, [[spoiler:it turned out to be needed not to ''enter'', but to ''exit'' the facility]];
###a length of fine wire - [[spoiler:used to break the lock in the security police cruiser]]

###a parcel receipt - [[spoiler:an item from the future, retrieved by the time scoop. Allows Jennings to get access to the storage vault in the bank where the blackmail materials are deposited by Kelly [=McVane=], Jennings' accomplice who turns out to be Rethrick's daughter and promptly betrays Jennings. Also an initial clue to the nature of his work at Rethrick's, as the date on a receipt shows that it is issued a few days ''after'' Jennings regains memory.]]

###a bus token;

###a bus pass;
###a code key;

###a parcel receipt - [[spoiler:an item from the future, retrieved by the time scoop. Allows Jennings to get access to the storage vault in the bank where the blackmail materials are deposited by Kelly {{McVane}}, Jennings' accomplice who turns out to be Rethrick's daughter and promptly betrays Jennings. Also an initial clue to the nature of his work at Rethrick's, as the date on a receipt shows that it is issued a few days ''after'' Jennings regains memory.]]

** Just FYI, the short story featured (in addition to a bus pass and a code key):

##a fortune from a fortune cookie with lucky numbers printed on the back - [[spoiler:winning lottery numbers, and clues to the location of the ticket - proof of the envelope's prophetic nature]].

##a watch - [[ChekhovsGun two uses]]. At the start, it [[spoiler:confirms the items are his, as the watch matches the tan lines on his wrist. At the end, it [[spoiler:alerts him when to duck a bullet]].

##a watch - [[spoiler:alerts him when to duck a bullet]].

* NiceJobFixingItVillan: See ForTheEvulz. Honestly, Rethrick's pathetic attempt at TheReasonYouSuck speech in the end should have been directed towards himself.

''Paycheck'' (2003) is a reasonably faithful film adaptation of the Creator/PhilipKDick short story of the same name, starring Creator/BenAffleck, Creator/UmaThurman, Creator/PaulGiamatti, and Creator/AaronEckhart, and directed by Creator/JohnWoo.

* ForTheEvulz: Is there any other reason for Rethrick to kill the former employees who weren't able to remember anything substantial anyway? [[NiceJobFixingItVillain Who knows whether Jennings would have turned on Allcom at all if it hadn't been for Rethrick's willingness to murder him...]] Notably averted in the original short story where the only real threat for Jennings comes from the security police, not from Rethrick (who after the end of Jennings' contract actually offers him to work for the company again at any time).

* JustForEvulz: Is there any other reason for Rethrick to kill the former employees who weren't able to remember anything substantial anyway? [[NiceJobFixingItVillain Who knows whether Jennings would have turned on Allcom at all if it hadn't been for Rethrick's willingness to murder him...]]

%%* LargeHam: Renthrick.

* IntangibleTimeTravel: The time scope.

** Just FYI, the short story also featured:

###a parcel receipt - [[spoiler:an item from the future, retrieved by the time scoop. Allows Jennings to get access to the storage vault in the bank where the blackmail materials are deposited by Kelly McVane, Jennings' accomplice who turns out to be Rethrick's daughter and promptly betrays Jennings. Also an initial clue to the nature of his work at Rethrick's, as the date on a receipt shows that it is issued a few days ''after'' Jennings regains memory.]]

##a bus pass - [[spoiler:the only item common to both the film and original short story; allows Jennings to escape quickly through a bus terminal – the FBI must jump the turnstiles]].

##a keycard to Allcom's facility - [[spoiler:allows him to re-enter his lab]].

%%* WealthyEverAfter

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''Paycheck'' (2003) is a resonably faithful film adaptation of the Creator/PhilipKDick short story of the same name, starring Creator/BenAffleck, Creator/UmaThurman, Creator/PaulGiamatti, and Creator/AaronEckhart, and directed by Creator/JohnWoo.

Michael Jennings has a great job. He's a reverse engineer, paid large sums of money to figure out how rival technology works and improve on it. In exchange for his massive paychecks, he must have his recent memory wiped after each job to prevent any information leaks. Life is good.

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