“A Scanner Darkly,” the newest adaptation for the big screen, finds director Richard Linklater rotoscoping -- overlaying live images with computer animation -- to the sci-fi, action, thriller story.
Seven years in the future, the government has lost control of the drug trade. The newest glam drug on the market is Substance D, little red pills that keeps the user happy. Big Brother keeps trying to strengthen its hold and stop the spread of the dangerous substances. The narcotics squad of the police department wears scramble suits, full-body suits that continuously projects different body and facial images, to keep their real identities secret from the world and even their co-workers.
Officer Bob Arctor (Keanu Reeves) goes undercover amongst a group of friends to weed out someone with connections to important drug peddlers. His job gets tougher since everyone is high at all times. Freck (Rory Cochrane) suffers from the downside of drugs, hallucinating about bugs and dreams of suicide.
Troublesome twosome Ernie Luckman and James Barris (Woody Harrelson and Robert Downey Jr.) love to fight and act smarter than they really are. Donna Hawthorne (Winona Ryder) acts as both dealer and Arctor’s girlfriend, but hides elements of herself from the world.
But Arctor’s world takes a downward spin when he is suspected of being the ringleader of the group by the cops and he becomes addicted to Substance D on the job. The department frequently sends him to see psychologists, to take tests and see how he is being affected. And, of course, he’s being affected.
“A Scanner Darkly” has the viewer sympathizing with Arctor, who has no idea what is going on and neither does the audience. The viewer has to decipher what exactly to pay attention to, and it’s not obvious. What is obvious are feelings of being coked out, drugged up and confused; perfect if you’re a drug addict, but not for a moviegoer.
Discussing and thinking about the movie afterwards may help taking it all in. The viewer sees Arctor going downhill and he cannot comprehend that he is an addict; he is in trouble until it’s too late. How is that important? Well, it’s a story with a moral: Don’t do drugs or you’re basically dead. It’s another “1984” type story, warning against the big bad government taking and monitoring everything people do.
What is nice about “A Scanner Darkly” is that it’s visually stunning. At times the animation looks like live action rather than cartoonish. The extensive work the creators had to do with rotoscoping, which is said to have been severely time-consuming, was worth it.
Also a plus, Downey in a supporting role. He achieves so much on screen because of his line delivery. He’s sarcastic, cynical, neurotic and funny as Barris; you like him and hate him at the same time.
As for watching “A Scanner Darkly,” discuss and ponder the movie or you’re misusing the two hours sitting in the theater. It’s a thinking movie that takes time to appreciate. This is not a movie for everyone, or one to spend the weekend watching. The serious movie watchers will be pleased, but those looking for a fun Friday or Saturday movie should stay away.
"A Scanner Darkly" opens Friday, July 14 at Landmark's Oriental Theatre.
Originally from Des Plaines, Ill., Heather moved to Milwaukee to earn a B.A. in journalism from Marquette University. With a tongue-twisting last name like Leszczewicz, it's best to go into a career where people don't need to say your name often.
However, she's still sticking to some of her Illinoisan ways (she won't reform when it comes to things like pop, water fountain or ATM), though she's grown to enjoy her time in the Brew City.
Although her journalism career is still budding, Heather has had the chance for some once-in-a-lifetime interviews with celebrities like actor Vince Vaughn and actress Charlize Theron, director Cameron Crowe and singers Ben Kweller and Isaac Hanson of '90s brother boy band Hanson.
Heather's a self-proclaimed workaholic but loves her entertainment. She's a real television and movie fanatic, book nerd, music junkie, coffee addict and pop culture aficionado.
