Monday Movie You Aught to See: The Butterfly Effect

Regardless of whether the decade ended already ended in 2009 or will end at the close of the current year, the 2000s were a wonderful period of cinema with many treasures that deserve to be remembered. Check in at Movies with Abe on Mondays for Movies You Aught to See, a look back at memorable movies from the aughts. They are posted in no particular order, and if you have a great film from the 2000s that you think merits consideration, leave a note in the comments!

The Butterfly Effect
Directed by Eric Bress & J. Mackye Gruber
Released January 23, 2004



This isn’t a movie that you’ll find on too many critics’ lists. This dark tale of a man who realizes he can change his past by reading his journals and flashing back to blackouts from his childhood is much better than most will tell you. Ashton Kutcher’s performance is nowhere as bad as others will have you believe, and Amy Smart is pretty terrific in her many iterations of Kutcher’s long-lost love. What’s truly fascinating, however, is the way this movie is put together, creating alternate realities as often as Kutcher’s Evan can concoct them by going back to try and help someone. It contains some of the most messed-up kids you’ll see on film, but also one of the most intriguing looks at time travel and its consequences. It’s certainly worth giving a fair shot.