One delightful, albeit twisted piece of mind-fuck

A Scanner Darkly...I've seen it, and oh man, where to begin...

Every review I've seen of the film compares it to director Richard Linlater's previous animated film Waking life. However, that's where the similaritie end. Waking Life was animated to simulate a dream world, while A Scanner Darkly is more of a drug state. In both cases, it's very effective. I'm very thankful they didn't advertise this move as "from the director of School of Rock and Bad News Bears", because that would only cause a lot of people to leave the theater severely pissed.

Leaving the theater this afternoon, it took me a few minutes to re-adjust to reality...honestly, this is the first film to give me vertigo afterwards. Seeing it on DVD won't be the same as seeing in the big screen. To simulate the experience, try looking at yourself in the mirror after staring at magic eye puzzles for three straight hours. You'll see some spooky shit you know you're not supposed to be seeing.

Also, the performances of Robert Downey, Jr., Woody Harrelson and Rory Cochrane serve as the best anti-drug message ever in the history of film. These guys are tweaking their asses off the whole time they're on the screen. In a smart move, they never show any of the "benefits" of the drugs they're taking, only how the drugs have taken their toll on their minds and bodies. Wanting to do drugs after this movie, providing you didn't take some beforehand, is like taking a smoke break during The Insider, or going out for a drink after Leaving Las Vegas, or trying to be a dick after watching Passion of the Christ. It can be done, but it'll be a bittersweet experience.

A lot of reviewers criticize Keanu Reeves' performance in this film, but I felt he did a good job. I mean, it's Keanu Reeves, for Christ's sake. You can't expect oscar-caliber from this guy, but in this case, he plays to his strengths. Nobody gives blank stares to a world he doesn't understand like Keanu Reeves. At least he never said "Whoa!"

Plus, it's based on a Phillip K. Dick novel, and in my opinion, films based on his works are always as good as the source material. Blade Runner and Minority Report were excellent because the novels were great as well. Paycheck and Imposter sucked because the books sucked. A Scanner Darkly was written when Phillip K. Dick was deep into his drug addictions, and it shows in the story. The confusion and paranoia is palpable, and the new-world-order/conspiracy sublots of the story make it all justifiable.

A Scanner Darkly is not for everyone. The animation style is far from mainstream Disney fare, the dialogue screams indie film, and the situations will turn off 90% of viewers not familiar with the filmmakers' earlier works. Case in point: there were ten people in the theater with me when the movie started, and six when it ended. Not bad for one of Linklater's "arty" flicks playing in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

All in all, I loved it. If it had been done in live action, and with a bigger budget, it would have sucked. The twist ending was pulled off with great care; not letting you in on too much foreshadowing like M. Night Shyamalan has crammed in our heads time and time again. That is to say, there's a reason that lesson number one in film school is to cater to the dumbest person in the audience and spell everything out beforehand.

The animation gave the film a hand-made craftsmanship that a lot of reviewers failed to see as anything other than a gimmick. This is ultimately a story about drug addiction and it's effect on your mind and how you see the world. Recovering addicts never see the world as they saw it before they started. There's always residual effects, and this movie recognizes that. Having the last part of the movie switch to live action would have ruined the whole experience, and that's EXACTLY what would've happened if Hollywood had gotten hold of it.

I do offer this word of caution: Don't turn your brain off if you choose to see this film. If you give the film your undivided attention, you won't be disappointed. Keeping an open mind will reward you. However, it's not one of those indie films that's too smart for it's own good and it doesn't talk down to you if you don't fully get it. If you want mindless fun, Fast and the Furious is right across the hall.