Scanner Darkly

Review 1 of 5

jbuncom writes:

4of 4 Stars

In all sincerity this film allowed the audience to see psychological chaos in reality. Reeves best portrayed a descent that left him in the worst manner of confused isolation. Psychosis and existentialism are the themes that appear to be married here, but in depth they are more likely separated, in a similiar fashion to the characters' right and left hemispheres. Watch this movie, so to see how detached a person can become from his psychological self.

Aug 20, 2006 14:31:35

Review 2 of 5

scipio writes:

4of 4 Stars

I realize it sounds disingenuouis to say that disorientation IS the orientation in this film, but I disagree with Peter Travers that what we ought to be focused on is Arctor's psychological degeneration. The politics are IT (and of course can't be dissected without revealing the plot). The disorientation marvelously serves the politics in this brilliant film, absolutely impeccable in its representation of the book. I laughed, marveled, and determined to see it again. Rory Cochrane and Harrelson are excellent, so is Ryder, but it is Downey who astounds and Reeves who makes you realize that he is a superb actor. The Bear Lodge scene made my day. This is one of the best films this year, if not the best. Some films need to be seen more than once; this is one; I have NO problem with that. PKD would be proud.

Aug 12, 2006 14:02:55

Review 3 of 5

Stanlee writes:

4of 4 Stars

The transition from book to screen was cunningly done and the director's choice to use this medium of rotoscoping for one of Dick's darker psuedo-autobiographical novels was superb. I have just added Linklater to my list of favorite directors. I am already a closet Dickhead, literary one in particular since the only movie which actually feels like his writing was Blade Runner, and A Scanner Darkly payed fitting tribute to a man who is one of the fathers of the American New Wave in speculative fiction. Go see this movie for thought provoking ideas. Better yet, read his book. One small sidebar. I totally believe Pete Travers is way off in seeing something as a sub-plot pointedly fixed at the current administration. There is no added subtext here. It is a faithfull and fitting tribute to Philip Kindred Dick and to his scarred and 'scattered husks' of friends. As he says in his note, "there is no moral here; it is not bourgeois; it just tells what the consequences were." The consequences were accredited at the end of the movie next each corresping friend who confronted the 'enemy' which was making the mistake of playing with drugs. Enough reveling in political chaos theory here. Does almost everybody in this magazine have to look so microscopically into every movie, album or book that currently comes out and deduce that the motives of said directors, artists or authors is to show their audience the Orwellian state of the current administration. Self induced paranoia is rampant. Let's try to grasp the big picture can we. I think Peter Travers is constantly washing himself and his dog in the shower trying to get rid of all of his aphids disguised as G. Dubya.

Jul 15, 2006 04:24:49

Review 4 of 5

eromnis writes:

4of 4 Stars

leaving the theatre, i had a strong feeling that what i watched was a sincere tribute to phillip dick, whom linklater certainly honors with this film. this is also slightly problematic, as i felt that without the knowledge of the book, the film isnt very accesible.

dont get me wrong, im the opposite of the snob that says the book was better. the film just may be a bit more difficult to appreciate unless youre a linklater of pkd fan.

that said, most of the people that would dislike and otherwise not get this film are probably drooling 50 feet away from you at pirates of the carribean.

if you enjoyed any linklater film, or any pkd adaptation (save total recall or paycheck), you will enjoy this film. you'll know to some degree exactly what youre getting, like going to your favorite restaurant for their specialty item.

Jul 8, 2006 07:21:41

Review 5 of 5

deadorooney writes:

3of 4 Stars

A Scanner Darkly is an intruiguing bit of metatheater with a weak narrative thread. Linklater may have been between worlds on this one, blending the nonlinear story telling of dreams with the tried and true blueprint of the screenplay. This indecision weakens a phenomenal project. A viewer with an active imagination and radical points of view may regard this movie as flawless.
Scanner behaves more like a novel than a film. It tasks your imagination with filling in the many narrative blank spots that are placed throughout the film. Within the faults of this film are the message.
The largest fault of Scanner is that you're not being told what to think; Linklater takes you to a party, where you know no one, and leaves you. It is disheartening to watch a film and not be told what to think on the basic narrative level. There is an expectation that is not met. This film requires you to analyze the behaviors and dialogue of the characters and wave the BS flag on your own. It's not immediately evident but A Scanner Darkly has an unreliable narrator.
In a world where paranoia is justified, you just can't tell when people are messing with your head. Reeves plays Rob Arctor, drug agent who operates in a world of faux anonymity. He believes he can be the target of his own investigation because his bosses tell him so. Arctor believes competing brain hemisphere's is an ailement because the doctors tell him so. The battle in this world Linklater and Dick have created is against the cruelty of the educated fools and low self esteem of the masses.
Much of this film revolves around the apparent problem of Substance D. Tell me if you can spot the problem. Everyone is on Substance D yet everyone isn't seeing bugs crawl out of their skin. Substance D is more of an opportunity than it is an effective drug. It's only clear effects are addiction and even that is suspect. No one seems to be fiending for D.
Scanner Darkly invites you to become a substance D addict. You watch the film through the lense of a world on Substance D; the awe inspiring look of surreal animated world like a superb acid trip, but the nightmare of living in limbo where there is no up or down, no beginning and no end.
Drugs are an escape from reality; a chance to break the monotony and live without boundaries. In Scanner Darkly as with Waking Life we see that it is the boundaries, the limitations are what you miss the most.
Robert Downey Jr. gives the usual performance as Barris a clever and cruel anti establishment Substance D addict. About Substance D, Barris says, "you're either on it or you're not." We hear this sentiment of good or bad, black or white from the mouths of others too. Barris uses the devices of the establishment, fear and lothing, to fight back, undoubtably trying to drive Arctor to the brink of sanity knowing him to be an undercover agent.
What is best expressed by Scanner is the loss of freedom. The characters in this story have their choices cut down to a pair. You do drugs or you don't. You can't escape from the borders of reality for short trip; you either stay in our world or you're banished to your world. It isn't the specific drug or it's effects, it is the inclination to be free that is at issue here.
This review has no mention of Winona Ryder's character up to this point because she is almost non existent in this film. The use of her character in this film is akin to getting cold french fries at the drive thru, frustrating and unfulfilling. There is no follow through in her relationship with Arctor; she only serves as an uninspired plot device.
The use or misuse of the characters in this film one of its largest failings but don't give up on Scanner, see it at least twice. And when it comes out on DVD don't put it with the rest of those plastic drones in your entertainment center. No, put Scanner Darkly on your bookshelf.

Jun 30, 2006 10:51:19