Film { "A Scanner Darkly"

Film: A Scanner Darkly
Location of Viewing: Landmark Uptown Theater
Saw with: Nerdwife, AlexV
Post-Screening: Zeno Coffee and Dessert Bar

"A Scanner Darkly" is based off the novel by Philip K Dick. In a word, amazing. The film was shot live action and then animated and this mehtod works to help create the atmosphere of surreality that permeates the story. All the main characters suffer from substance abuse and paranoia, and the animation help to greate underscore the shifting faces of reality that they experience. The corporate and governmental overtones of the film strike chillingly close to home, except in this movie the US has escalated the war on drugs (as opposed to the war on terror) to the next level, fighting globally with the military on destroying the organic component of 'Substance D' while waging an unprecedented internal surviellance program (everyone is watched and everyone is encouraged to report suspicious behavior on everyone else). Over 20% of the US population is addicted to Substance D. There exists rehabilitation and salvation, offered by only one corporation (via an exclusive contract with the gov't) called 'New Path', which by way of its contract with the gov't operates outside the bounds of law (i.e. no oversight and no observation), and they are more than what they seem and harbor a dark secret while profiting on the misery of everyone.

By the end of the movie truth/fiction, reality/surreality have become so intertwined you are left wondering if it all exists or is merely a fantasy of the protagonist/victim.

Performances by the actors (who themselves have all had experiences with drugs) were superb.

Overall I gvie the movie an 'A' and highly recommend it to everyone. This movie may require a second viewing to reap the full experience.