Awake is an engaging vehicle for two promising young actors, Hayden Christensen and Jessica Alba. Christensen gets the more interesting part as Clay, a man who suffers “anesthetic awareness� and finds himself awake and aware, but paralyzed during open-heart surgery. Another small detail — he can hear the doctors plotting his death during the surgical procedure. With his mind functional, Clay races through his memory to figure out why anyone might want him dead. Meanwhile, his wife, Sam (Alba), must make some crucial decisions while dealing with her own dilemma. Christensen and Terrence Howard deliver great performances, while Alba proves once again why she is a compelling presence in pop culture. This is Joby Harold’s first turn as writer and director, but hopefully not his last. -- forrest green III


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