Impostor (Director's Cut)
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Movie Reviews of Impostor (Director's Cut)
Movie Review: Deceptive
Summary: 5 Stars
I like this movie because it is deceptive. I thought I had the movie figured out but I was wrong until the end.Movie Review: Solid and entertaining adaption of Dick's story
Summary: 4 Stars
It's a pretty common theme in Dick's work; it's an inversion of Hitchcock's "wrong man" theme. Imposter works best when Sinise, D'Onfrio and Stowe are on screen. Sinise gives one of his most sincere, powerful performances since Of Mice and Men (nearly a decade ago) and Truman. D'Onfrtio acts as the perfect foil to Sinise's brilliant scientist. The plot essentially boils down to this: Sinise plays a weapons designer who has come up with a device that could obliterate the alien enemy (much like the atomic bomb with the Japanese during WWII). He's the ultimate insider with his doubts about the ethical and moral decision to develop and use the device. D'Onfrio plays a the future equivelent of an FBI agent. He believes that Sinise's character has been murdered and replaced by a Cyborg with a mission to kill the leader of Earth. If the Fugitive like plot plays out like something you've seen before, keep in mind that there are enough plot twists and turns ahead to keep it interesting. Remember, there are, after all, only 36 dramatic situations and variations on these themes. Imposter just happens to use one that's very familiar and invert many of the expectations.
If the film plays a little too long given its plot, keep in mind that this was originally developed as 1/3 of a triology of short films (the original short is included with the feature version). That and the fact that the script passed through at least 6 different writers' hands (four of whom are credited) might explain some of the minor plot holes. On the whole when Imposter works it works very well. Director Gary Fedler (Kiss The Girls) keeps the pace brisk and scenes short and to the point. Most of the optical effects are outstanding (although it's clear during the narrative set up at the beginning that the budget was quite thin at that point. The opticals don't quite measure up to some of the later visual effects.
Imposter is a faithful adaption of Dick's short story (right down to the ending played with a slight variation that Dick would have loved). Although not as visually stunning or groundbreaking as Blade Runner, the narrative flow of Imposter is stronger than that classic film (although there are a few plot contrivances that are distracting). None of the adaptions of Dick's stories have been flawless (much like Dick's work itself). Dick's themes are intact: What makes us who we are; how do we define our reality and what qualities separate us from our machines?
I belive over time that Imposter will turn out much like Blade Runner: that classic film was blasted by critics and disliked by much of the audience. Its reputation has grown with time and the advantage that video provides with reviewing a film. Imposter may lack much of the groundbreaking visual style of Blade Runner but it more than makes up for it with a strong narrative flow. Sure, the film is flawed but then so it Steve Spielberg's very good (if overpraised) adaption of Dick's Minority Report.
What's most important about Imposter is the fact that it's a serious look at Dick's existential themes in a formula film. The twists and turns of Dick's original plot have been kept (or embellished) making the film entertaining. Between the outstanding cast, taunt direction, a well written (if padded) script and very good visual effects, Imposter manages to make a powerful statement about the nature of who we are in an entertaining sf format. 3 1/2 stars.
Movie Review: One more of Philip Dick's best works brought to screen
Summary: 4 Stars
Sci fi author, Philip K. Dick has made a one of the most significant contributions to sci fi on film. Just for starters, here's a partial list from IMDB:
"Next" (Based on "The Golden Man")
"Paycheck"
"Minority Report"
"Total Recall 2070"
"Blade Runner"
"Total Recall"
In addition, there are two more of Dick's novels being committed to film. "Radio Free Albermuth" debuts next year. "The Owl in Daylight" will be coming out in 2009.
"Impostor" takes us to Earth 2079. We have been at war with Centauri for years and nothing seems to be capable of stopping the invaders.
Spencer Olham (Gary Sinise) used to build rockets as a kid til his father died on the front against the Centauri. Now, he builds weapons and he's darn good at it.
Problem is, the ESA (Earth Security Agency) thinks Olham is an impostor cyborg and he's carrying a Centauri bomb in his heart. He's arrested and manages to escape, desperately trying to prove with a PET scan that he is himself and not a weapon.
"Impostor" is basically a breathless chase through a dystopic Earth. Gary Sinise does a great job playing the inventor on the run. Kudos also to Madeline Stowe, who is his physician wife, Maya. The best tribute I can offer to the two of them is that they are pretty much what I envisaged of Stewart and Dr. maya Olham when I read the short story in the first place.
If you are a fan of Philip K. Dick, you may well want to add this film to your collection. It's very much worth more than one viewing for subtle nuances. I think the cast and crew really did do the author proud.
Movie Review: Do You Know Who You Are?
Summary: 4 Stars
Earth is at war with aliens and Gary Sinise is in charge of a new weapons project that could turn the tide in Earth's favor. But just when the project is about to be completed, Gary is arrested. He is accused of being an alien spy; a clone created to sabotage the project. Gary knows he is not an alien but everyone around him is convinced otherwise. How can Gary prove his innocence when no one is interested in it? He manages to escape custody and goes into hiding. He hatches a desperate plan to show that he really is human. All he has to do is break into a heavily-guarded hospital and gain access to his recent physical records.
Gary manages to enlist the aid of others living under the radar of the authorities and puts his plan in motion. It becomes a race against time and Gary is forced into one last desperate act to prove he is himself. All he has to do is find the alien craft and duplicate that never replaced him. Will he get there before the authorities catch up to him? What will he find? Will it clear him or will there still be doubt? You will have to watch to find out.
What is reality? That is a question that kept Philip K. Dick writing great story after great story. There are two versions of the film on this disk. There is the longer theatrical release and the original shorter version. The difference is the hospital plot. Personally I feel the shorter version works better. The longer version has a small flaw as Gary's tag does not get recorded but works fine right afterwards. Still, the full-length version is enjoyable but the short version is tighter and makes a bit more sense. Check it out.
Movie Review: If you're a Sci-Fi fan, you will love this
Summary: 4 Stars
I read many of the negative reviews, but ended up giving this a chance based on the cast. The central theme of this sci-fi suspense thriller focusses on the question, "How do you know if you are really you?" Imposter has enough visual effects to make you believe its the year 2075 (in Johnny Mnemonicesque fashion), yet focusses on the characters. The cast was great, with every actor/actress living up to their reputation. Sinise and D'Onofrio are especially terrific. After an initial intense beginning, Imposter eases into a nice fugitive-like flow. This movie has most of the things we like in our Sci-Fi: aliens, fight scences (guns and a little kung fu), futuristic chase scenes, neat mind-twisting philosophical mumbo jumbo, a terrific ending and a little CGI thrown in for good measure.
If I had one complaint its would be the lack of gratuitous T&A. If this really was a "B" movie as many of the reviewers suggest, the T&A would be there (as I had hoped when I purchased this). As for me, I liked it better than the other Philip K. Dick-based movies, Minority Report and Total Recall (and I love Arnold). Imposter does not come across as a "B" movie. While I would not put this in the same class as say Blade Runner, few movies are.
Bottom line - Buy it, you'll like it.