Review of A Scanner Darkly (2006) by Xmodem R — 12 Aug 2010

I didn't have high hopes, but this is a really good movie. It's a twisted movie, and it's strange, but it's a very faithful translation of the story, which is likewise odd and is purportedly semi-autobiographical. The actors really shine here, and the artistic "cartoonization" of the work doesn't detract from the performances at all - it's really well done, and I came away with the distinct concept that it was the right choice for this type of movie.

The drug use that Dick lived and / or surrounded himself with comes through, with all its oddness, and the final plot contains enough depth to really bring the story some gravitas, some substance. The actors play in to their roles perfectly - Downey and Harrelson in particular do a great job, as does Ryder, and Reeves is relegated to the protagonist / observer role, which was probably for the best in this case. Even little-known Cochrane is convincingly fried by the nefarious Substance D. This is not a movie for those seeking the feel-good hit sensation of the season, but it's really well-done, and is well worth watching.