A Scanner Darkly

[j_garcia]

Anyone seen this? I picked it up on Blu-ray last week because it was only $11 at Frys, and a friend who's taste I tend to agree with said he really liked it. I'd have to say it is definitely not for everyone, but I enjoyed it. I'd call it a rental if you were at all interested in it. It is basically the story of an undercover cop who gets in a little too deep, as expected....but also makes a lot of social commentary that I find on the money. Initially the story makes very little sense, but eventually gets around to business, and the interaction between the character is quite good. The oddest aspect of the movie is the fact that they basically shot it on film and then literally "drew over" everything manually (digitally), creating a sort of hybrid, photoshop-esque looking, animated film. I think this fit right in with the strangeness of the movie overall, but seems like they went a bit overboard with it, in that it wasn't really necessary to animate EVERYTHING. Overall, I'd give it a 3 out of 5, just based on the insanity of the characters and the entertaining paranoid dialog.

 

[avaserfi]

I rented the movie on netflix the first time. I enjoyed it pretty well, enough to pick it up on BD for 10 bucks when I saw the price tag. Its an enjoyable movie but you are dead on when saying its not for everyone. My girl hated it.

 

[j_garcia]

It had that sort of feel of a Darren Aronofsky film. I love his stuff, but it is so out there.

 

[avaserfi]

It had that sort of feel of a Darren Aronofsky film. I love his stuff, but it is so out there.

One of the few names in film I recognize. Requiem for a Dream is one of my favorite movies of all time. Sure does have that extremely out there feel.

 

[Sheep]

For me, it wasn't good until the very end, where everything started making sense. Before that it seemed like a CGI "Friday".

SheepStar

 

[skizzerflake]

I thought it was visually fascinating and interesting from a future-drug perspective. The scenes where the guy gets the itches made me scratch. It does have an Aronofsky feel to it.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I picked it up on Blu-ray last week because it was only $11 at Frys, .

Are they selling BR or HD at that price already, or just some of the sleeper movies?

 

[j_garcia]

Exactly what Sheep said - it doesn't make sense until the end. It seemed like they were deliberately trying to confuse you only to have it make sense at the end, but the story doesn't start to focus for a bit too long.

Yes, Frys has what seems like random HD titles on sale every week recently, normally right around this price. Likely the slower selling titles, but they usually have one or two good ones.

One of the few names in film I recognize. Requiem for a Dream is one of my favorite movies of all time. Sure does have that extremely out there feel.

If you haven't seen Pi then, make sure you check it out. I really liked The Fountain also.

 

[mpompey]

Pi was an excellent movie. I liked Scanner, but not enough for it to make my collection. Philip K. **** makes a lot of social commentary about drug culture, drug "wars", and everyone caught in between both.

Also have to agree with everyone that his film may not be for everyone.

 

[j_garcia]

I would have rented it if it wasn't $11... I had one friend say he really liked it and another say he thought it sucked, so I was hesitant on the blind buy. I think it was worth the price.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

I absolutely loved it. As visually intriguing as Waking Life, and with a better story. Of course, it helps that I have always been a big P.K. Richard fan.
(I had to enter the name as "Richard" because the idiotic auto-censor edited out the proper name ****!)