Apologies for the picture! Love most stuff, but mainly writing, so will download everything going o...
Apologies for the picture! Love most stuff, but mainly writing, so will download everything going on upstairs onto these hallowed pages, to help all other Ciao mebers!
Member since:03.01.2007
Reviews:4
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Having read Philip K Dicks book, A Scanner Darkly, I was eagerly awaiting the film adaptation. Upon hearing that George Clooney had optioned it no less, and that Richard Linklater was down to direct it I was kind of ecstatic. I have a lot of respect for George Clooney, following his efforts to turn out less main stream Hollywood films, in favour of thought provoking and interesting films. So when I heard that Keanu Reeves had go the lead role as Bob Arctor, my heart sank.
To be fair to Reeves, his last couple of films have been stinkers. Matrix Reloaded and Revolutions were not bad down to his acting, more to the clunky direction of the Wachowski Brothers. But the lead character for A Scanner Darkly, in my opinion would always have needed someone who had a half decent range, and not someone who cam across as a bit of an airhead.
But upon watching the DVD, I was surprised. On a number of levels.
Spoiler warning!! The story follows an undercover drugs operative
called Fred (his codename for anonymity. He has to wear a scramble suit at all times to cover his identity within the police station). He has been inserted into a circle of people by Hank (he too is scrambled) from the police department. They think the group has links to Substance D (Substance D is the main drug, like coke, in a pill) manufacturing. Fred then goes by the name of Bob Arctor within the circle. Each week he has to report on his new friends, James Barris, Ernie Luckman, Donna, and Charles Freck.
To fit into the group Arctor gets more and more dependant upon substance D. His actions become more erratic and Arctor becomes the centre of attention for the police force, and FRED (Bob Arctor) is instructed to follow him closely. So for Bob Arctor, he is conflicted, by being both Fred and Arctor. Meanwhile Barris, is trying to set him up as a terrorist, to try to deflect attentions from his own involvement with substance D, all with out Arctor knowing. Arctor also befriends Donna, a local supplier. She is also a user, and becomes the centre of Arctors paranoia. Luckman and Freck, are unfortunately drug addled sidekicks. They offer nothing more than to show what happens when you take Substance D. The story quickly unfolds to show that Arctor is in deep. After having reviews by Police Psychosis team, he is diagnosed as having brain damage from the Substance D. His superior officer orders his layoff and gets him into New Path, an rehabilitation centre for drug addicts.
Arctor is distraught, and the knowledge of his impending layoff, sends him over the edge. It is then discovered that his superior officer Hank, is in fact Donna, and that Arctor was merely a patsy to get Barris to set him up. All the time Arctor was being set up to get hooked, to be inserted into New Path, who Hank really suspected was the mass producer of Substance D. The films ends with Arctor in a Vegetable state, farming poppy like plants on a field, owned by New Path. To confirm Donna's suspicions and to hit home, how ruthless the Police can be.
Visually, this film is nothing short of stunning. The graphic comic effect that Linklater has pulled off is amazing. Not only does it add to the surreal experience to the film, but it feels futuristic, a quality that adds to the setting of the film. The fact that the whole film is shot like this, makes you feel like you are watching a comic. Couple this with the real-time acting, means, you can't take your eyes off the screen for a second, in case you miss something. Add to this the stunning soundtrack by Radioheads Thom Yorke and you already have a winning combination.
As mentioned before, I had read the book, so I was familiar with the story. However, this did make me apprehensive as to how Linklater was going to fit it all in. In the book, Dick draws from his experiences with drugs from the 60's. In part, it can make for some pretty surreal reading, but Linklater handles it well. Obviously cutting out some of the irrelevant ramblings from the book, and including the parts that move the story forward. So, again, the film delivered pretty much the same experience you get from the book.
What I did feel slightly disappointed with was the lack of development of Donna's and Arctors relationship. A big point of focus for the book, but strangely skipped through with the film.
In all, the film adaptation goes some way to doing the book justice. Robert Downey Jnr and Woody Harrelson put in great supporting roles, with Rory Cochrane playing a messed up junky superbly. Winona Ryder doesn't really have a lot to play with, but what she does, she does well. And that leaves Mr Reeves. He surprised me, showing the right levels of depth, and he can obviously play a spaced out drug addict well too.
So in conclusion, a great film, which looks superb. Not one you could watch repeatedly, but if you ever want to show your kids what happens to drug addicts, look no further than this.
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Production Year: 2007 - Science Fiction - Director: Francis Lawrence - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Alice Braga, Charlie Tahan, Dash Mihok, Will Smith, Salli Richardson, Willow Smith
What does a scanner see? Into the head? Into the heart? From the novel by Philip L. Dick - ... more
the sci-fi legend whose works-to-film include Blade Runner, Total Recall and Minority Report - comes A Scanner Darkly, brought to the screen by filmmaker Richard...
![A Scanner Darkly [DVD] [2006]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78189194.jpg "A Scanner Darkly [DVD] [2006]")
Jan 26th, 2007
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