AKA
08-06-2006, 12:52 PM
I went to see Richard Linklater's latest film, A Scanner Darkly, last night. The movie, which stars Keanu Reeves, Robert Downey Jr., Woody Harrelson, Winona Ryder and Rory Cochrane, is based on the late Phillip K. Dick's 1977 novel of the same name. George Clooney and Steven Soderbergh serve as executive producers.
It takes place seven years in the future (Dick's original novel was set in a futurisitc 1994), and tells the story of Bob Arctor, a man living a double life as both a drug user and an undercover police officer assigned to spy on his friends - and himself.
Arctor's double life is unbeknownst to his friends, his fellow officers (since his identity is digitally visually "scrambled") and, in some respects, Arctor, himself.
A Scanner Darkly is animated, via digital rotoscoping, much like Waking Life (one of Linklater's previous films). This process adds to the surreal nature of the film.
The movie is smart, funny, thought-provoking and highly entertaining. It's the best movie of 2006 you haven't heard of, and is sure to be an Oscar contender. I would highly recommend it if it's playing in your area.
Official Site (includes theatrical trailer) (http://wip.warnerbros.com/ascannerdarkly/).
It takes place seven years in the future (Dick's original novel was set in a futurisitc 1994), and tells the story of Bob Arctor, a man living a double life as both a drug user and an undercover police officer assigned to spy on his friends - and himself.
Arctor's double life is unbeknownst to his friends, his fellow officers (since his identity is digitally visually "scrambled") and, in some respects, Arctor, himself.
A Scanner Darkly is animated, via digital rotoscoping, much like Waking Life (one of Linklater's previous films). This process adds to the surreal nature of the film.
The movie is smart, funny, thought-provoking and highly entertaining. It's the best movie of 2006 you haven't heard of, and is sure to be an Oscar contender. I would highly recommend it if it's playing in your area.
Official Site (includes theatrical trailer) (http://wip.warnerbros.com/ascannerdarkly/).