The Final Cut, at least on the surface, is a reference to a futuristic practice called a "Rememory." Sort of a visual eulogy offered at funerals courtesy of another futuristic innovation called a "Zoe' - an implant that records all the events of a persons life. These Zoe chips are subsequently made available to individuals known as "cutters" who have exclusive access to the Zoe information so that they may be able to cut together a flattering summary of an implantee's life, again for use at funerals. Robin Williams is just such a cutter, kind of a special case "hot shot" called in for more sensitive cuts.

Though the Zoe implants are pretty much used exclusively for these rather innocuous Rememories, there is a growing number of rebels who are conscientious objectors to the process, who regard it as the ultimate invasion of privacy. They call themselves something that I can't remember, tattoo their faces as an expression of their opposition and show up to picket funerals, toting signs that read things like "Memory is Sacred" or "Remember stuff for yourself," and have as their rallying case in point the instance of a young girl who killed herself because she was ashamed of the things she'd been doing and was uncomfortable with the idea that one day some computer nerd was going to know all about it.

The Final Cut is a piss poor excuse for a futuristic thriller mainly because of it's terribly flawed premise. First of all you've got these Rememories that are nothing more than glorified home-movies. Evidently the film-makers expect us to be in awe of these "cutters" who are basically editors who have the amazing gift to realize that it's a good idea to include the part where the deceased individual surprises his daughter with a pony for her Birthday, and leave out the bit where he molests her in the stable. Also absurd is the sub-plot involving a childhood memory Williams is haunted by, that he risks his life to discover the details about, after learning that he has a Zoe chip of his own. This is supposed to be the major gut-wrenching reveal to the film, but is nothing if not terribly laughable.

Also included is a ridiculous sub-plot involving an expatriate cutter (played by Jim Caviezel) who is willing to kill to get his hands on the chip that Williams is presently working with. Due to a rather vague notion that by exposing the shameful events of a man, whom before his death was one of the chief players in the Zoe corporation, that he might strike a fatal blow for the forces who oppose the whole Rememory process.

All of this inconsequential subject matter combined with the silly memory that has been haunting Williams, makes for an awfully tepid thriller. As for the performances there is nothing to jump and down about either. Williams plays his role in his fullest restrained mode and Mira Sorvino is completely wasted as his befuddled love interest. Caviezel sleepwalks through his part as do everyone else involved in this half-baked excuse for futuristic suspense. I remember when I first started seeing trailers for the film that it looked pretty interesting and then I forgot about it altogether, before having my rememory jogged when I saw it on the shelf of my favorite video store. Do yourself a favor and leave it on the shelf where it belongs.