After Blade Runner, Total Recall and Minority Report, another of the late Philip K Dick's short stories provides the inspiration for this psychological action thriller.

Crack computer engineer Michael Jennings (Affleck) operates a nice little earner getting hired by hi-tech corporations for top secret projects.

Work completed, his short-term memory is erased by his buddy and manager Shorty (Giamatti) to ensure he doesn't sell off any company secrets.

OK, so there's already more holes than the nets in the North Sea fishing fleet but bear with it as director Woo suspends disbelief so consummately he should be in the circus.

Next up billionaire entrepreneur Jimmy Rethrik (Eckhart) recruits Michael for a secret three-year mission for which he'll get an eight figure pay cheque.

He wakes up on cue only to discover he doesn't seem to exist anymore... but because he does, some dodgy coves want him terminated.

Escaping his killers (and the FBI for good measure), he finds he has mailed himself a series of everyday objects which, used in correct order and at the right time, will save him.

It's this daft premise that provides the entertainment and thrills as he wreaks mayhem with a, er, bus pass and a paperclip. No, really.

Unlike Steven Spielberg, who directed Minority Report, Woo isn't a natural director of emotion - but he does give good action.

There's a motorcycle and car chase that bears comparison with The Matrix freeway ride but here it isn't the sole reason for seeing the film.

Affleck raises his game after the shame-fest that was Gigli but you couldn't see him replacing the battery in a torch let alone building a machine that can see the future.

Don't for one moment think it's the last we'll see of Dick's fertile imagination - the writer left us with a legacy of 30 novels and 100 short stories. Steady.

Tim Evans