Cypher
by Vincenzo Natali
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: David Hewlett, Jeremy Northam, Lucy Liu, Nigel Bennett, Timothy WebberDirector: Vincenzo Natali
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 96 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2005-08-02
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Miramax
Movie Reviews of Cypher
Movie Review: Pawns R Us.
Summary: 4 Stars
Morgan Sullivan is a computer geek hired by a secretive organization, Digicorp, to ferret out the secrets of their competitor, Sunways Systems.
In order to be convincing, and pass all the tests that Sunways employs, Morgan Sullivan is transformed into a cypher, a man who is and can be anything he wants to be. A man who can slip through any man-made security protocols imaginable. His new name: Jack Thursby. His identity, a freelancing businessman who attends banal conventions in order to spy upon Digicorp's many competitors, specifically, Sunways. But that's not the only thing that's different. With neural brainwashing as an aid, he literally becomes a different man.
Before he's swallowed too deeply into a confusing rabbit hole, he is pulled out with the aid of a mysterious woman, Rita, a freelance agent herself who works for an equally mysterious man, Sebastian Rooks. With Rita's help, Morgan/Jack is able to shuck off all the brainwashing, even as his world is tossed upside down. The old life, he finds out, is no longer waiting for him but is as dismantled and frighteningly distant from his former self and life than he could ever have realized. But that's only the beginning. What he thought was a gig as a secret agent for Digicorp, is nothing more than a way for the corporation to maintain their secrets why insuring complete control and the inability for the other side to gain access.
Morgan, free of the mindwash and the drugs and now himself (or so he believes), is still not free. Despite his mistrust of both parties and the obvious ploy of his as nothing more than a piece of meat hanging on a hook, he is recruited as a double agent by Sunways. And finds out the hard way that the whole plot, from beginning to end, was a ruse. And the whole purpose? To find an aware spy produced and made by Digicorp--Morgan--that can even fool his makers, to be eventually recruited by Sunways to infiltrate Digicorp.
As he does what he told, not finding any way out other than to do and see what will happen, Morgan is beginning to realize, perhaps too late, that he is but a pawn, and everyone else around him, obstacles in a mind-numbing maze of who to trust and who not to believe. And in the end, to save himself and screw everybody else.
If the solid acting by Northam doesn't entice you (which was pretty stellar from geeky dull Morgan to suave fluid Jack and then to paranoid Morgan/Jack), the visual seduction by Vincenzo Natali might just woe you enough. With a seamless blend of classic film noir, modern sci-fi elements while maintaining a familiar tangible environment, Cypher is nothing but surprises and big wide open, whodunnit and what the hell is going on?
Who are these two corporations? What do they have worth stealing? Who knows, and though you might not care too much, some may have wished for some more info in that area. You won't get it, so just let it go. Because if you think too hard on it, the plot tends to weaken since the whole point for Morgan to infiltrate and steal information. Also, the ending begs the questions of what was so important, what was that information worth, to go that far? You won't find out, so just enjoy it as a simplistic representation of a man on a mission (even if the truth is illusive). While not entirely original and somewhat of an easy wrap-up, it might surprise a few, and somewhat disappoint others. With an equally seductive soundtrack, it sets the mood and the right tone from beginning to end.
Natali combines with little difficultly and ease, several visual elements from other films. It's got bits of Cube (another brilliant Natali creation), The 13th Floor, Gattaca, Sin City, Equilibrium, Dark City, Existenz, among others which you'll recognize, all stylized as one cohesive visual tapestry and somehow, maintaining its own identity.
Lucy Liu as the X-factor and enigmatic Rita Foster is the weakest link, though her role (and sadly, her acting) made less cheesy by the end, and vastly pales in comparison to Northan performance, even Nigel Bennett as the creepy representative of Digicorp is more memorable. But you won't mind because the character plot is complex (though the actual plot tends to be less so), the overall feel is chilling, and the surreal use of color, lighting and textures which further added to the suspense.
Take a headtrip, and see where it'll lead you. It might just make you wonder, and smile.
Summary of Cypher
A pulse-pounding cyber thriller starring Jeremy Northam (GOSFORD PARK, EMMA) and Lucy Liu (KILL BILL VOLUME 1, CHARLIE'S ANGELS: FULL THROTTLE), CYPHER is sure to entertain you! When computer expert Morgan Sullivan (Northam) joins a huge multinational company, he assumes a new identity and is sent undercover to investigate corporate espionage. Before long, he finds himself caught up in a vicious cycle of paranoia and mistrust. Then along comes Rita (Liu), a sexy and smart secret agent who informs Sullivan that he's being brainwashed and that she is the only one who can help him! Loaded with riveting twists and amazing special effects ... you're sure to applaud this fast-paced thriller!Action & Adventure DVD Video
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