Donovan's Echo (2012)

Donovan (Danny Glover) is a slightly dyslexic nuclear physicist who has returned home after 30 years. He has dealt with a 30 year tragedy. Oh not the severe gut wrenching type of tragedy like being a Browns fan, but that of a personal loss of loved ones.His return is clouded with mystery. Sgt. Finnley (Bruce Greenwood) leads a warm reception that soon turns strange as Donovan is consumed by 30 year old premonitions which he kept in a journal. He tries to sort things out, but unfortunately his interpretations lacks a bit of accuracy which leads to initial skepticism.His premonitions center around an 11 year old girl (Natasha Calis) which causes alarm for Mom.The film proceeds as a slow mystery being unraveled. It has many parts which make you think you are watching a "Lifetime" film. There is little action in the film and what action that does happen, is off screen. The film is about the reoccurring cycle of life. A likeable film for those who are into that sort of thing and were banging your head against the wall watching "Cloud Atlas."Parental guide: No f-bombs, sex, or nudity. One BS.

A Movie About Clairvoyance and One's Ability or Inability to Make Sense of it All and Connect the Dots for Some Kind of Understanding and Closure to Things that have Happened or Might Happen is the Complicated Plot of this Small Film from Canada.It is Difficult to Process (things that go on in the mind and in dreams or precognition) and making it Intriguing and Mysterious to an Audience is not the Easiest Way to Make a Thriller. But when it is done Well it can Make for a Unique and Unusual Movie that is Welcomed in the Paranormal and Sci-Fi Genre.The Premise can be Creepy and as the Viewer is Most Likely at Some Point in Their Lives through Dreams of Deja Vu can Latch On to it with an Uneasy Feeling Taken from the Uneasy Feeling that such Real Life Experiences can Bring On.This isn't a Fully Rendered Film about Danny Glover's Frustrating Predicament and there are Coincidences a Plenty and a bit too many Contrivances to Accept, but the Movie does Manage to Draw You into its World of Wondering What's Up just Enough to Pass as a Low-Key, Well Acted, but Ultimately Boxed In Entertainment and So Restrained by its Budget and Running Time that it Seems Rushed, Confusing, and Shackled.Overall, it is Definitely Worth a Watch for some Good Performances and an Interesting Story, but Fully Involved Fans of this Type of Thing will Most Likely End Up Wanting More than this can Deliver.

Maybe even a 7/10.Danny Glover has been in so many garbage films and series that he has become a bit of an underrated actor. In this film at least he gets to be the focus, and show us some of his ability. Also the child supporting lead is not the usual vile little snot-nosed thing, instead she's quite restrained and engaging.But overall, this film is so 'un-demanding', when really it should be an edge-of-the seat jobby. For some reason it just fails to scare.It's not boring, it's just ... more innocuous than it should be. We watched it late at night before work, and it made almost no emotional impression whatsoever.All of which makes it sound like a bad film!It's not, it's got a good little story and a couple of nice twists.You could sum it up by "I didn't mind it."

This film made its world premiere today as the Opening Gala presentation at the Calgary International Film Festival. Starring Danny Glover as Donovan Matheson, a dyslexic nuclear physicist who gave up his career upon the death of his family thirty years prior, and Canadian Bruce Greenwood as an RCMP Staff Sergeant and friend of Donovan's it is essentially a character study into deja vu as Donovan flashes in and out the present and past.It draw parallels between the tragic death of his wife and daughter and current catastrophes that are too closely similar for comfort, almost as if Donovan was predicting them. Everyone Donovan interacts with throughout the entire film appears to have a connection, what we never quite know until the last five minutes, to the loss of his family.This suspense film never reveals even a hint of the possibilities of its conclusion until the last ten minutes. The viewer is left with many unanswered questions but with enough closure to be comfortable with the outcome. A good production worth viewing but I would not call it a great production. The problem being it was disjointed for too long a period at the beginning even though it picks up rapidly mid film. Regardless, this atypical role for Glover should bring him honourable mention as he held the viewers' attention throughout and essentially was the only true star of the film, all others being supporting only. This was a great performance by Glover.