尼僧背德

　　大萧条时期，每个人都要守住一个梦想，以此来度过最黑暗的时光，生活失意的汽车制造商查尔斯•霍华德（杰夫•布里吉斯 Jeff Bridges 饰）也不例外。他买了一匹小个子赛马，名为“海饼干”，并笼络了一批同样有梦想的人，意图进入赛马圈。
　　第一个发现海饼干天赋的是训练师 汤姆•史密斯（克里斯•库珀 Chris Cooper 饰），他认为这匹马虽然个头矮小，腿脚也不太灵光，天性中却藏着十足的执拗和倔强，这有可能使其成为赛马圈的王者。他们找来前拳击冠军瑞德•波拉德（托比•马奎尔 Tobey Maguire饰）作为海饼干的骑师，三个人一匹马在共同的征程中重新找到了生活的方向。

　　时空的转换，现在与未来的穿梭，都在杰克（亚德里安·布洛迪 Adrien Brody 饰）身上神奇的发生着。他本来是一个参与过海湾战争的美国军人。意外中弹令他丧失了记忆，成为一个失忆者。继而更倒霉的是，他被警方认作杀人疑犯拉回审讯。因为判定为精神疾病，杰克免于坐牢，只是被带到精神病院，作为某项科学实验的样品。
　　医生为杰克穿上了紧身衣物，把他放进停尸间。这里黑暗冰冷，只剩下零散的记忆碎片陪伴杰克。碎片中有着他将来的模样，有着一个心爱的叫杰基（凯拉·奈特利 Keira Knightley饰）的女子，更有着自己快要死去的讯息。在记忆中看到将来的杰克，在一线希望中寻找着通往生机的钥匙。

　　The setting is Vienna in 1914 before the outbreak of war. The aristocratic and somewhat jaded Prince Nicki, pursued by all the ladies, begins a flirtation with Mitzi, a crippled harpist who works in a suburban wine-garden, and who is in turn idolized by Schani, an uncouth and violently jealous butcher. Their first encounter significantly takes place in front of St. Stephen's Cathedral on Corpus Christi day, with Nicki among the emperor's cavalry regiment. Later, in the refracted light of falling apple blossoms in the wine-garden--scenes of a distilled, ethereal beauty--Nicki gradually wins her faith and love. Meanwhile, amidst the sumptuous and corrupt milieu of the family palace, Nicki is drawn into complicity against his will, as his unscrupulous mother informs him he must marry Cecelia, the daughter of a wealthy commoner, in order to revive the family fortune. Mitzi has a vision of The Iron Man (a symbol of the declining power and position of the Hapsburg dynasty) and falls before the crucifix in fear; but her love remains steadfast, and she protests her faith though abused by her mother and Schani. Infuriated by her rejection, Schani threatens to kill Nicki on his wedding day unless Mitzi agrees to marry him. Following the processional splendor of the cathedral wedding, Schani appears to carry out his threat, but Mitzi arrives in time to stop him; and through the downpouring rain Nicki sadly gazes on his true love in the crowd as he drives away with his bride.