Movie Menu Preview Review: A Scanner Darkly

Reviewed by Alexander Z

Walking into any Keanu Reeves movie the word that often-wise jumps to mind, (and I'm sure in many others, as well), is "Whoa!" and then expect a ridiculously budgeted movie based on a book. In the case of the Matrix trilogies, inspired by Plato's "Allegory of the Cave,� it proves that Reeves is a one trick fish in a digitally craptaculous movie. In the case of Phillip K. Dick's A Scanner Darkly, however, Reeves sacrifices that trend almost instantly... even though he'll always be Ted to me.

"What does a scanner see? Does a scanner see into me? Into us? Clearly or darkly?"
                        -- Phillip K. Dick

Let me make this simple and clear for fans who are thinking about A Scanner Darkly: watch it! --but watch it at your own discretion. This movie isn't for those who are interested in watching an action-filled science-fiction movie. Scanner is a science-fiction movie that’s as dirty and gritty as a British gentleman’s teeth, but delivers with the freshness of an Orbits gum commercial. Don't expect a movie with simple dialogue either, this movie will have you jumping from line to line, taking in more concepts and theories than a standard psychology class. And just like a psychology class, it will have you wondering about all those drugs you've taken for "recreational" reasons.

A Scanner Darkly is a movie about drugs and the way they fuck up your perception of life...

The movie is based in the "near future" where the U.S. government has lost the war against drugs to a new poison named Substance D. The story follows an undercover cop, Bob Arctor (Reeves), who is assigned to increase surveillance on the house he is spying on. Little does the government know that the person leading the house is Bob Arctor. Bob Arctor is assigned to spy on Bob Arctor, and Bob Arctor is being spied on by Bob Arctor. Oh, and Arctor is a drug junkie who is slowly loosing his mind. This movie is fucking awesome! To top it off, the movie is shot in what's known as "interpolated rotoscoping" which is another way of saying live-motion cell-shading, kind of like "Viewtiful Joe" the video game.

A Scanner Darkly is adapted and directed by Richard Linklater-- of famed movies as "Dazed and Confused" (for those stoners out there), "Before Sunrise" (for those chick-flick-watchers), "Waking Life" (for those indie-kids) and "School of Rock" (Jack Black, need I say more?)--he takes Phillip K. Dick's book and translated it into this beautiful cell-shaded reality that makes you doubt what you are looking at: is it a real shot or is it animation? As result, I felt interpolated rotoscopic myself walking out of the theater (...meaning I had bad gas and had to pee really badly).

If there was a movie I'd compare this to it would be Requiem for a Dream. It's basically the same tale concerning drugs (they're bad for you, pe-o-ple!)-- Thankfully, it doesn't leave you with that same suicidal tendency. The movie's cast was brilliant and executed every scene with finesse (is it weird to think Wynona Ryder looked hot as a cartoon-ish character?).

If the cast doesn't fancy your interest than the music will definitely make your ear scream for more (as if ears scream?). Thom Yorke and Radiohead provide for the majority of music in the background and give off the same disillusionment their music often does.

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And that's it; thanks for letting me waste your time... now go on, watch the movie, come back, and give your own review of the movie through the comment section.
~Z

Links:
Official Site