Before I Go to Sleep (film)

{{Infobox film

| name = Before I Go to Sleep

| image = Before i go to sleep poster.jpg

| alt =

| caption = British theatrical release poster

| director = Rowan Joffé

| producer = Avi Lerner
Liza Marshall
Mark Gill
Matthew O'Toole
Ridley Scott

| writer = Rowan Joffé

| based_on = {{based on|Before I Go to Sleep|S. J. Watson}}

| starring = Nicole Kidman
Mark Strong
Colin Firth
Anne-Marie Duff

| music = Edward Shearmur

| cinematography = Ben Davis

| editing = Melanie Oliver

| studio = Studio Canal
Millennium Films
Scott Free Productions
Film i Väst

| distributor = Clarius Entertainment (United States)
StudioCanal (United Kingdom)
UGC Distribution (France){{cite web|title=film #47007: Before I Go To Sleep|work=Lumiere|access-date=14 May 2021|url=http://lumiere.obs.coe.int/web/film_info/?id=47007}}
Svensk Filmindustri (Sweden)

| released = {{Film date|df=y|2014|09|04|New Zealand|2014|09|05|United Kingdom}}

| runtime = 92 minutes{{cite web |url=http://bbfc.co.uk/releases/i-go-sleep-film |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030215446/http://bbfc.co.uk/releases/i-go-sleep-film |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 October 2014 |title=Before I Go to Sleep (15) | work=British Board of Film Classification |date=27 January 2014 |access-date=30 October 2014}}

| country = United Kingdom
United States
France
Sweden{{cite news|url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/53c703048af49|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603061021/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/53c703048af49|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 June 2016|title=Before I Go to Sleep|website=bfi|access-date=10 October 2022}}

| language = English

| budget = $22 million{{cite web |url=http://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Before-I-Go-to-Sleep#tab=summary |title=Before I Go to Sleep (2014) |work=The Numbers |access-date=8 May 2018 |publisher=Nash Information Services, LLC.}}

| gross = $15.1 million{{cite web |url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=main&id=beforeigotosleep.htm |title=Before I Go To Sleep |year=2014 |work=Box Office Mojo |access-date=8 May 2018 |publisher=IMDb}}

}}

Before I Go to Sleep is a 2014 mystery psychological thriller film written and directed by Rowan Joffé and based on the 2011 novel of the same name by S. J. Watson. An international co-production between the United Kingdom, the United States, France and Sweden, the film stars Nicole Kidman, Mark Strong, Colin Firth, and Anne-Marie Duff.

Plot

Christine Lucas wakes up next to a man she does not know. The man explains that he is her husband, Ben, and that she suffered severe brain damage from a car accident fourteen years earlier, resulting in her having no memory of her life from her early twenties onwards.

Christine receives treatment from Mike Nasch, a neuropsychologist, who gives her a camera to record her thoughts and progress each day. He also calls her every morning to remind her to watch the video in the camera, but instructs her to keep the camera hidden from Ben. Nasch reveals that her memory loss occurred after she was attacked and left for dead near an airport hotel; they both surmise that Ben tells Christine it was due to a car accident to avoid upsetting her.

Over the course of her treatment, Christine faintly remembers a red-haired woman named Claire. Ben tells her that Claire was a friend who couldn't handle Christine's condition and ended contact with her. Later, Christine recalls that she has a son, Adam. She angrily confronts Ben over hiding their child, but he says Adam died of meningitis when he was eight. Christine also remembers the name Mike and believes it may be the name of her attacker, which she tells Nasch during an appointment. He hugs her to comfort her and almost kisses her, but she pulls back and then notices on his name badge that his first name is Mike. Christine flees. Nasch later tells Christine he is not able to treat her any more because he has developed feelings for her.

Christine learns that, several years after her attack, Ben had placed her in an assisted care facility and divorced her, then had a change of heart and brought her home to live with him. She also discovers that Claire had been trying to contact her at the care facility. Christine obtains Claire's phone number and meets her. Claire reveals that Christine had embarked on an affair prior to her attack, while Ben and Claire had a one-time sexual encounter following the attack owing to their shared grief at Christine's memory loss.

Claire gives Christine a letter written to her by Ben; he asked Claire to give it to Christine should she ever be well enough to read it. In the letter, Ben tells Christine that he loves her, but that he had to leave her for Adam’s sake, as he had begun to be afraid of her. Christine shows Ben the videos she has made on the digital camera. However, Ben angrily accuses Christine of having an affair with Nasch, strikes her and storms out. Later by phone call, Claire informs Christine that Ben claims not to have seen Christine for several years. Christine describes the Ben she is living with and they realise he is not Ben. As she attempts to escape the house, "Ben" renders her unconscious.

The next morning, Christine again awakens with no memory but she finds the camera and sees her entry saying she loves "Ben" and wants to make a life with him. "Ben" calls Christine and tells her to pack for a trip that night. He then visits Nasch and tells him to stay away from Christine. That night, "Ben" takes her to a hotel close to where she had been found after the attack. He reveals that he is Mike, the man she had an affair with. Christine then remembers that Mike had wanted Christine to reveal their affair to Ben, but Christine refused and their argument culminated in Mike viciously attacking Christine, resulting in her amnesia. Mike deletes the videos on her camera and states that he is no longer interested in playing the part of Ben. He tells Christine that they shall live together or no one shall live. Another struggle ensues, but this time Christine manages to get away. She sets off the hotel fire alarm then flees, and is seen telling her story on the camera while waiting in an ambulance.

Christine wakes up in a hospital bed and is visited by Nasch, this time as a friend and not as her therapist. He assures her the man responsible for her condition has been arrested. He tells Christine that she has visitors and that he hopes the visit will provide the breakthrough they have been hoping for. The real Ben appears with Adam, who is alive. Christine’s memories begin to return when she sees her son.

Cast

{{columnslist|

Nicole Kidman as Christine Lucas
Colin Firth as Mike/Ben
Mark Strong as Mike Nasch
Anne-Marie Duff as Claire
Dean-Charles Chapman as Adam
Jing Lusi as Nurse Kate
Rosie MacPherson as Emily
Ben Crompton as warehouse caretaker
Adam Levy as Ben Lucas
Gabriel Strong as boy on bike
Flynn MacArthur as boy in dream
Hannah Blamires as mother in park
Bern Collaço as doctor
Chris Cowlin as police officer
Laraine Dix as hospital patient
Llewella Gideon as psychiatric nurse
Kevin Hudson as man on bike
Steve Munroe as warehouseman
Nick Turner as Claire's friend

}}

Production

On 1 May 2011, Ridley Scott bought the film rights of the novel Before I Go to Sleep by S. J. Watson, and hired Rowan Joffé to direct and write the script.{{cite news |title=Before I Go to Sleep, By S J Watson |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/before-i-go-to-sleep-by-s-j-watson-2277300.html |access-date=1 August 2013 |newspaper=independent.co.uk |date=1 May 2011 |last=Kidd |first=James}} In February 2012 Nicole Kidman was in talks to join the film;{{cite news |title=Nicole Kidman In Talks To Star In Rowan Joffe's Psychological Thriller 'Before I Go To Sleep' |url=http://www.indiewire.com/2012/02/nicole-kidman-in-talks-to-star-in-rowan-joffes-psychological-thriller-before-i-go-to-sleep-253653/ |access-date=1 August 2013 |newspaper=Indie Wire |date=29 February 2012 |last=Dang |first=Simon |publisher=Penske Business Media, LLC.}} later in May she joined to star as Christine.{{cite news |title=SJ Watson excited as Nicole Kidman signs up for Before I Go To Sleep movie |url=http://www.stourbridgenews.co.uk/news/local/9721870.SJ_Watson_excited_as_Nicole_Kidman_signs_up_for_Before_I_Go_To_Sleep_movie/ |access-date=1 August 2013 |newspaper=Stourbridge News |date=23 May 2012 |last=Holder |first=Bev |publisher=Gannett Company}} On 31 October 2012 Mark Strong also joined the cast of the film.{{cite journal |title=Mark Strong set for 'Sleep' |url=https://variety.com/2012/film/news/mark-strong-set-for-sleep-1118061486/ |access-date=1 August 2013 |journal=Variety |date=31 October 2012 |last=Sneider |first=Jeff |publisher=Penske Business Media, LLC.}} According to The Hollywood Reporter on 16 November 2012, Kidman said she wanted Colin Firth to work with her again. They had already worked together in a drama, The Railway Man.{{cite journal |title=Nicole Kidman Wants Colin Firth for S.J. Watson Thriller |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/nicole-kidman-wants-colin-firth-391082 |access-date=1 August 2013 |journal=The Hollywood Reporter |date=16 November 2012 |last1=Ginsberg |first1=Merle |last2=Baum |first2=Gary}} On 6 February 2013, it was confirmed that Firth had joined the cast to lead with Kidman.{{cite news |title=Colin Firth Joins Nicole Kidman's Amnesia Thriller 'Before I Go to Sleep' |url=http://www.indiewire.com/2013/02/colin-firth-joins-nicole-kidmans-amnesia-thriller-before-i-go-to-sleep-199607/ |access-date=1 August 2013 |newspaper=Indie Wire |date=6 February 2013 |last=Savage |first=Sophia |publisher=Penske Business Media, LLC.}}

=Filming=

The film was shot in London and at Twickenham Studios.{{cite journal |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/colin-firth-joins-go-sleep/ |journal=Empire Online |title=Colin Firth Joins Before I Go To Sleep |first=James |last=White |date=7 February 2013 |access-date=9 October 2015}}{{cite journal |last=Mitcehll |first=Robert |title=Firth, Kidman to star in 'Before I Go to Sleep' |url=https://variety.com/2013/film/news/firth-kidman-to-star-in-before-i-go-to-sleep-1118065745/ |date=6 February 2013 |access-date=8 May 2018 |journal=Variety |publisher=Penske Business Media, LLC.}}

Release

The film was released in the United Kingdom on 5 September 2014 and released in the United States on 31 October 2014.

=Marketing=

On 3 July 2014, the first UK trailer of the film was released by StudioCanal UK.{{cite news|last1=Anderton|first1=Ethan|title=Colin Firth & Nicole Kidman in First Trailer for 'Before I Go to Sleep'|url=http://www.firstshowing.net/2014/colin-firth-nicole-kidman-in-first-trailer-for-before-i-go-to-sleep/|accessdate=4 July 2014|publisher=firstshowing.net|date=3 July 2014}}

=Critical reception=

The film was met with generally mixed reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a rating of {{RT data|score}} based on {{RT data|count}} reviews, with an average rating of {{RT data|average}}. The website's critical consensus reads, "If it doesn't completely avoid thriller clichés, Before I Go to Sleep still offers a stylish, fast-paced, and well-acted diversion."{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/before_i_go_to_sleep|title=Before I Go to Sleep (2014)|website=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher=Fandango|access-date={{RT data|access date|df=dmy}}}}{{RT data|edit}} On Metacritic, the film has a score of 41 out of 100, based on reviews from 31 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/movie/before-i-go-to-sleep |title=Before I Go to Sleep Reviews |work=Metacritic |access-date=8 May 2018 |publisher=CBS Interactive}}

It has been unfavorably compared with Memento, a film released 14 years earlier. "What the brilliant Memento once used as a way to explore a truly inventive way of storytelling is here just a gimmick. It's shallow, it's silly, it's pat. It's... forgettable," wrote the New Jersey Star-Ledger.{{cite news |last=Whitty |first=Stephen |title='Before I Go To Sleep' review: Nicole Kidman snoozes, loses |url=http://www.nj.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2014/10/before_i_go_to_sleep_review_nicole_kidman_snoozes_loses.html |access-date=10 November 2015 |newspaper=New Jersey Star-Ledger |date=31 October 2014 |publisher=Advance Local}} "Christopher Nolan's 2000 brain-twister Memento starred Guy Pearce as a man with a similar malady. The earlier film rigorously stuck within the logical confines of its premise. Joffé's is filled with far too many contradictions and implausible situations," wrote The Philadelphia Inquirer.{{cite news |last=Derakhshani |first=Tirdad |title=Suspend disbelief in this thriller |url=http://articles.philly.com/2014-11-01/entertainment/56314169_1_nicole-kidman-car-crash-thriller |access-date=10 November 2015 |newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=1 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304075930/http://articles.philly.com/2014-11-01/entertainment/56314169_1_nicole-kidman-car-crash-thriller |archive-date=4 March 2016}}

Kidman's performance has been positively received. Writing for Daily Star, critic Andy Lea said in a positive review that "Kidman puts in a chilling performance as the frail but determined Christine."{{cite news |url=http://www.dailystar.co.uk/movies/397176/Review-trailer-Before-I-Go-To-Sleep-starring-Nicole-Kidman-and-Colin-Firth |title=Review and trailer: Before I Go To Sleep (15) is a nail-biting tour de force |date=31 August 2014 |last=Lea |first=Andy |access-date=8 May 2018 |newspaper=Daily Star |publisher=Express Newspapers}} David Edwards of Daily Mirror stated, "Leading lady Nicole Kidman hasn't been this good in ages" finishing with "Kidman is on top form as the nervy, spiky woman walking a psychological tightrope."{{cite news |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-reviews/before-go-sleep-review-spirit-4166053 |title=Before I Go to Sleep review: The spirit of Hitchcock looms over Nicole Kidman's implausible thriller |last=Edwards |first=David |author-link=David Edwards (journalist) |date=5 September 2014 |access-date=8 May 2018 |newspaper=Daily Mirror}}