A Scanner Darkly

February 06, 2007

The story is about an undercover cop Keanu Reeves who is in with a bunch of stoners hoping one of them will lead him to the source of a new drug call “D”. If you have seen any of the screen shots from this movie they used a form of roto-scoping where they film actors and then paint over them. Here in A Scanner Darkly they digital paint over the actors. It is interesting and “trippy” and helps with the drug induced images and occurrences that take place in the film.

The film itself is dull and they pay off at the end is barely worth it. I found myself nodding off.  I was really looking forward to this film. Now I know Philip K. Dick novels can be “out there” but this was plain boring.

Robert Downey Jr. and Woody Harrelson are enjoyable as two different types of addicts. Downey plays the tech wizard who thinks he can create anything out of some house hold items and Harrelson plays your stereotypical California stoner. Though after awhile you start asking yourself when is this story going to get moving?

If you want cool visuals catch the trailer for A Scanner Darkly… hopefully they will find a better use for this digital painting roto-scoping process… maybe a GAP commercial?


Click here to read the staff review by Mania.