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Overall Rating : 4/10
Directed By : Richard Linklater
Keanu Reeves (The Matrix)
Robert Downey Jr. (Good Night, And Good Luck)
Woody Harrelson (The People vs. Larry Flynt)
Winona Ryder (Mr. Deeds)
Supplied By : Warner Home Video
Film Reviewed By : Rick L. Blalock
Date Reviewed : Jan. 4, 2007
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| PLOT Set in a not-too-distant future where America has lost its "war" on drugs, Fred, an undercover cop, is one of many people hooked on the popular drug, Substance D, which causes its users to develop split personalities. Fred is obsessed with taking down Bob, a notorious drug dealer, but due to his Substance D addiction, he does not know that he is also Bob. |
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| THE REVIEW In A SCANNER DARKLY, it is the future and Officer Fred is put on a case surrounding a new hip drug known a "Substance D", his investigations have taken such a toll on his mind that he has to frequently undergo psychological test, and it is later revealed to him that something may be very well wrong. No matter the case the officer is still assigned to track the happenings of Bob Arctor, a man that may or may not be trafficking the popular drug. Fred has set up surveillance in the home of Arctor, which is sort of a run-down house occupied by Arctor and roommates James Barris and Ernie Luckman, but soon Fred's mind deteriorates more and more, and a shocking truth is revealed to him.....he is Bob Arctor. The film takes you through many different scenarios, Bob's relationship with his strangely weird roomies to his rocky relationship with his girlfriend Donna, all the way through his everyday depression in life...all because of one drug, Bob has difficulty separating fiction and reality... I have always been a fan of Director Richard Linklater's work, my favorite being DAZED AND CONFUSED - just to name one. Coming off of recent hit's like the comedy SCHOOL OF ROCK starring Jack Black, when I saw the trailer for A SCANNER DARKLY I couldn't wait to see it. Translated from author Philip K. Dick's novel of the name A SCANNER DARKLY, is a story of a city whom has tried hard to stop it but has reluctantly lost it's war and drugs, and how one certain drug has taken a toll on society and what it does to people. The whole Fred is Bob and Bob is Fred thing is confusing and will turn off some viewers(as it did me slightly), is it is just too much to grasp and with the film being in Roto-Scope animation. it gets that much more difficult. Don't get me wrong the animation is outstanding as it is a technique that involves the entire film being shot live with the actors then the film is taken in a drawn over frame by frame with line and color. But as amazing as it is, the animation also causes the story to somewhat get lost in the shuffle and it's pace seems to drag at times. The story is solid or at least tries to be, but at about 15 minutes in to this film I was asking myself, how do I take this seriously, how do I write a review for this? Sorry my friends and neighbors, but I could never see myself as a critic of cartoons.... I don't know how the individuals that do, do it. Seeing renowned actors like Robert Downey Jr. animated like this, I try, but it is just so difficult for me to take their performances seriously.....although it is no fault of their own. But if I must say something of the acting at least Downey Jr. and Harrelson's feel good relationship with each other was somewhat comical at times, we didn't get much from Winona Ryder's Donna/Arctor's coked out girlfriend character(or at least I didn't), and to me, Keanu Reeves was none-too convincing as someone of as an addict as opposed to Rory Rory Cochrane's (whom was in Linklater's DAZED AND CONFUSED) character Freck. In the end, A SCANNER DARKLY. for me is a film that in the beginning shows promise, but slowly loses itself over time, along with the viewer, but at least the animation is something worth admiring. | ||||
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| GORE
METER N/A |
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| MUSICAL
SCORE 4/10 The soundtrack is decent enough and boasts a mello feel, mainly through the sounds of the band Radiohead. |
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| OVERALL
IMPRESSION OF THE FILM As mentioned, I really found the film to be confusing but decent by default due to the amazing Roto-Scope animation. I have a feeling that many casual viewers may hold this film in high regard just because of this unique animation, and because it is a medium not used often. |
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