I had very high expectations for this movie: It's directed by Richard Linklater, uses the same comic-book-brought-to-life technique that 'Waking Life' used, which I loved, and it's based on a short story by Phillip K. Dick, arguably the best sci-fi writer ever.
And don't get me wrong; this was a good movie. But not 'quite' what I expected. I found the first hour to be a bit tedious, mainly because it was mostly philosophy and drug-related talk from Robert Downey, Jr. But, Keanu Reeves, as the main character(s), has some cool sci-fi stuff to do: he wears a suit, as an undercover cop, that constantly changes his appearance. One minute he looks like a woman, then a guy with a beard, then an old guy...you get the drift. As Keanu struggles to get off of Substance D, we begin to realize that it has turned him into a schizophrenic. The 'drug dealer' he is watching....is himself. That's not blowing the plot. We figure that out very early on.
The other characters, however, even though they don't wear a suit, are the ones we can't figure, and are the ones who change. Hmm. This movie was smarter than I gave it credit for! There's a nice twist at the end, and the final message is: Don't Do Drugs: Drugs Kill People and Mess Them Up for Life. So, good message there. And an interesting film. Linklater fans will like it, Dick fans should like it, but people not knowing either of those two, might not like it. With Richard Linklater, you expect mostly conversations, very little action. And that's what this movie was. It was mostly people sitting around chatting. Which is good sometimes, as action films have ruined all of us and given us ADD. Maybe that's why I expected more-being a big fan of 'Blade Runner,' 'Paycheck,' and 'Minority Report,' I expected something remotely like those films, but with less action.
Well, this was MUCH LESS action. It wasn't boring; it was just...slow.
Until the last 40 minutes which moved the plot forward.
Grade? B
In other news, I also watched 'Cars' again after buying it, and cried even more this time around! I cry at the sentimental nature of it; it's very respectful of small town, USA, which I hail from, so I related. Mostly, it was just such a good story. This is what makes films. STORY. Hint, Hollywood. Writers should be the millionares, not actors.
But anyway.
Have a good day!
9 comments:
Woohoo someone agrees with me. I think pretty much the whole film got lost in that animation, the dialogue felt like it was the dull edge of the sword compared to what they tried to do with the visual look and feel of the film, and I almost wished that the DVD version here in Blighty had a "live action" cut of the film instead of the animated one.
I've seen pretty much all of the filmed PKD stuff, and I still find it ironic that the one film I like (Bladerunner) is so massively UNLIKE the book that it's virtually only recognisable as the book if you squint hard (I don't know if you've read the KW Jeter treatments but argggh they made me want to spit broken glass)
Great post though - A B grade is super generous mind you :)
Peej
"made me want to spit broken glass."
haha
:)
Well, I had high hopes for Scanner, but oh well. I'm a visual person, and love visuals in films almost as much as plot or dialogue sometimes. So that's why the B. ;)
Same here, am definitely a visual person but for me the animation was a bit too "real" - I love the rotoscoping technique but I think at times it distracted me so much from the dialogue, or in places seemed really scrappy, that I wish they'd done it all live action and had done with it.
Neat idea though. Ooh Paycheck's on tonight, I think I'll have to tune in and watch.
Peej
Somehow, I picture you hating 'Paycheck!' I don't know your tastes very well yet, but people seemed to agree that 'Paycheck' was mis-cast (poor Ben Affleck cannot catch a break!) and was a generic action film. I did not agree with said people, and really loved 'Paycheck.' It's my kind of movie. And a great story. You'll have to weigh in, as you're more advanced in PKD-knowledge than I am. :)
Sounds like a deal - It's on in half an hour. I'll forewarn and say that the only thing I've ever seen Ben Affleck in that I liked him in was Final Fantasy : Spirits Within, but that's because they successfully managed to animate him beyond all recognition.
Popcorn, check. Phone off hook, check. Heave ho here we go..
Peej
Oh dear!
Well, if you HATE it, you have permission to curse me, Brit-style. ha ;)
Hope you are at least entertained, though; I was!
Well...whoah, it wasn't bad at all, actually so no brit-style cursing (you just wanted me to call you a complete and utter cad didncha, admit it :)
I must admit I am a complete and utter sucker for memory-loss flicks, and even Ben "Mahogany Acting School" Affleck didn't put me off. Yes, this would go on the list of "good PKD Adaptations"
Woe betide the director who thinks they can tackled The Man in the High Castle though without upsetting, well just about everyone I guess.
Peej
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PJ: I love that-'Mahogany Acting School.' I shall call ol' Ben 'Mahogany' from now on, in your honor. :) I love memory-loss plots too-that's why I really liked it. I call it a 'smart' action-type film. Glad I am not considered a 'cad.' ;)
Absolutely 100% cad-free :)
Peej
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