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Since her breakout role in the 1994 action hit “Speed,” Sandra Bullock has cemented her status as one of Hollywood’s top leading actresses. Yet, like many stars, she has films in her repertoire that haven’t received widespread attention. One such film is the 2007 science fiction drama “Premonition.” Initially met with critical skepticism, the movie has recently found a new audience, ranking among Netflix’s top ten most-watched films, according to FlixPatrol.
Sony Pictures Releasing
Released just before her Oscar-winning performance in “The Blind Side,” “Premonition” showcases a different side of Bullock. In this supernatural thriller, she plays Linda Hanson, a woman whose husband, portrayed by a familiar face, dies in a car accident. However, she wakes up the next day to discover he’s still alive, sparking a series of bewildering events that challenge her grip on reality. As time appears to play tricks on her, Hanson must unravel the mystery and prevent a complex chain of events, all while those around her question her sanity.
With a modest production budget, “Premonition” managed to perform well at the box office, offering an enthralling mix of mystery, science fiction, and horror, capped off with a memorable ending. This captivating blend continues to resonate with audiences in the streaming era.
A significant element of “Premonition” is its manipulation of time, which is central to the narrative. Bullock’s character experiences future events, leaving her unsure of the timeline. This confusion also affected Bullock during production, as the film’s non-linear structure and out-of-sequence shooting added to the complexity. Interestingly, Bullock credits this disarray for enhancing her portrayal.
In a 2007 interview with Collider, Bullock revealed, “I had a really hard time, and I take great pleasure in saying I thought I was going to lose it.” She even sought guidance from director Mennan Yapo, admitting her struggle. “I went to the director and said, ‘I’m having a hard time. I don’t know what to do.’ And the smile on his face when he heard that, ‘No, that’s exactly where you need to be,'” she recalled.
Sandra Bullock’s confusion helped her performance
Sony Pictures Releasing
Bullock realized that her confusion mirrored her character’s bewilderment, which ultimately aided her performance. Although she acknowledged that a more linear storytelling approach might have been simpler, she conceded that it wouldn’t have been as effective for “Premonition.”
“I had a really hard time,” Bullock told Collider in a 2007 interview. “And I take great pleasure in saying I thought I was going to lose it.” In fact, Bullock later approached director Mennan Yapo to help better grasp the narrative. “I went to the director and said, ‘I’m having a hard time. I don’t know what to do.’ And the smile on his face when he heard that, ‘No, that’s exactly where you need to be.’”
Given that Bullock’s character is meant to be perplexed by the order of events around her, the actress just needed to be herself. And though Bullock admitted that telling the story more linearly may have been easier, she also acknowledged that such an approach wouldn’t have worked while making “Premonition.”
