17 juli 2006
BLEAK. That's the word for the best movie I've seen in over a year, which is "A Scanner Darkly."
Philip K. Dick's parable about drug use, based on his own experience, chronicles the slow downward spiral of a narc who's hooked on the highly addictive drug Substance D. This many-layered movie twists and turns as it explores the nature of identity, self-knowledge, and reality. Small spoilers below, in "continue reading."
The movie also has an undertow of grief. Some of the funniest scenes, in which a ragtag household of addicts are satirized, also reveal the burned-out pathos of their lives. One example is the now-famous bike scene. On the one hand, it's hilarious that the stoners think a bike with six gears on the front wheel and three on the back means it's a nine-speed bike. On the other hand, it's tragic that they actually no longer remember how gears work on a bike because their brains have been harmed by the drug.
Rory Cochrane plays a whacked-out addict with over-the-top perfection. The movie satirizes the tics, paranoia, and craziness of his character, but again, there's much sadness in this portrait of a burned-out shell of a man.
Woody Harrelson, in an outrageous mop of a wig, plays a belligerent child-man ex-surfer dude with equal skill. His character gets into frequent idiotic fights with the shifty, fast-talkin' Barris, whose drug-caused amorality comes to light in one scene in the kitchen.
The movie ends on a note of mingled pathos and infinitesimal hope. Y. was saddened by this movie. Just before the closing credits, Dick writes an open letter memorializing his friends who died from drug ODs. Grim flick. Highly recommended. Wikipedia article.
Posted by ypsidixit at 17 juli 2006 22:20
Comments
yep, thought it would be. i showed my husband the write-up in the Current, knowing he'd be way into seeing it. he said: Great! Get a sitter and we'll see it together!
no way. i knew i'd be sad when i left. and the older i get, it seems the more impressionable i become. or at least, visual images just stay and replay in my craw for far longer than i'd like.
so i found a way out of having to see it, while my husband went with a friend. they both enjoyed it.
blech. bleak. but i'm sure its good.
Posted by: amanda at 18 juli 2006 00:04
You really should see it. It is a bleak movie but the best movie I have seen in a long long time. Very brave of them to make it as they did and I am so glad it is faithful to the book.
Posted by: judy at 18 juli 2006 00:40
It is said to be more faithful to the source material than any other adaptation of Dick's work.
Amanda: I am quite impressionable as well, and I have to say the movie's stuck with me and has put me in a bit of a funk. Still, well worth seeing. Also, with one brief exception near the beginning, there are no disturbing or violent images in the whole movie. It's just the overwhelming sadness that creeps up on you and sticks with you.
Excellent piece of moviemaking.
Posted by: Laura at 18 juli 2006 09:10
I found the choice to use animation (rotoscoping) rather than straight shootingto be an inspired one. It throws reality just a few degrees out of kilter, as it is for those on Substance D, and adds a layer of alienation. Very effective aesthetic choice.
Posted by: Laura at 18 juli 2006 09:15