Premonition is hardly a work of cinematic art, but it's hardly the piece of crap many have been proclaiming it to be. While it's supernatural elements and it's earnest tale of a couple trying to salvage what's left of their marriage don't always mesh well, both sort of work on their own.

In Premonition, Sandra Bullock plays Linda Hanson, a woman who is mortified to discover that her husband (played by Nip and Tuck's Julian McMahon) has died in a freak car accident. The next morning, she's even more shocked when she awakens and discovers that her husband is still very much alive. Or is he? Doubting her own sanity, Linda soon realizes that she may have an opportunity to prevent an awful tragedy – should she chose to do so.

With elements of Final Destination, Groundhog Day, and Sandra Bullock's own Lake House, Premonition bites off a little more than it can chew in the credibility department, but through much of the movie, I bought into what was going on because Sandra Bullock sold it. She gives a performance not unlike Jodie Foster in Flight Plan, in that she's playing a vulnerable woman out to prove she's not crazy.

Premonition is fragmented in its story telling techniques. It jumps around, plunging the viewer into different time frames, but the flick never feels confusing. The film is gimmicky to be sure, and the story works hard to deliver it's twists, whereas in a movie like Sixth Sense, things feel a little more organic. Still, Premonition does have some clever little tricks up it's sleeve.

The movie is shot well, evoking a gloomy sense of dread (recalling Richard Donner's The Omen). Maybe a little too much dread. This sort of offsets the love story that's at the center of the piece.

Premonition is quite often a little too pat. At one point, a priest is introduced to the plot, and his real purpose in the film is simply to let Linda know what's going on (kind of like Sam Elliot in Ghost Rider). He starts by whipping out a premonition hand book, then immediately jumps into an eloquent monologue about love, fate, and second chances. As silly as it was, I wasn't entirely bothered by it, but perhaps that was because of my low expectations.

The film ends on a bittersweet note, but I was actually impressed that the film makers didn't get all cheesy and sentimental. I've read a few reviews that suggest the ending is a cop out, but I didn't feel that at all. If anything, the movie sticks to it's convictions.

Those hoping for a resolution in terms of the supernatural element of the plot, you're bound to be disappointed. There is no payoff here. This isn't like The Forgotten. There are no aliens controlling Linda's mind, nor is this woman suffering from a brain tumor (ala Phenomenon). This is simply a bizarre anomaly that occurs and prompts an unhappy woman to better her relationship with the man of her dreams.

Last year saw the release of a little known gem called Dankia. That flick starred Marisa Tomei and it bares an uncanny resemblance to this film. While I prefer Danika (it's now available on DVD – check it out), Premonition isn't without it's moments.