Z/Web

Fascinating sci-fi based on the Philip K. Dick short story. The premise is cool: a top govt. scientist is suddenly arrested as a traitor and told that he’s suspected of being a robot planted by aliens and he contains a bomb. Apparently the robot simulation is so perfect it’s impossible to tell if he’s human or not, except by disection. Of course the scientist believes he’s not a robot — but is he? That should be the core of the film — he’s own doubts as to his identity — but instead the film’s basically a big chase as he escapes and as a fugitive, tries to gain evidence to proof he’s not an android. Somewhat predictable, especially the twist ending, but still enjoyable, and there a good performances. It could have been a better film, but it’s still above average. It was originally supposed to be 30 minute short (as part of a sci-fi trilogy) but it was expanded to a full-length film. The original short’s on the DVD and it was better (though the expanded material isn’t that bad plotwise, it adds nothing characterwise).

This is the recent A&E production, and it was okay, though vaguely disappointing. Nothing much happens. The premise is fascinating: whatever a young man dreams comes true, and when he awakes, the world is different and no one recognizes that it’s changed but himself. He’s seeing a psychiatrist who begins to manipulate his dreams and give himself more power and fame. James Caan is excellent as the psychiatrist, but he’s not given much of a script. The dialog does nothing more than move the story forward; there is no depth. Good ending, and the production is okay, but ultimately the film has no soul. The scope of the changes made is minimal: there’s unlimited potential for changing the universe here and very little is done with that. Disappointing.