Review of A Scanner Darkly (2006) by Dan S — 22 Jun 2010

A lively film concerning a trio of drug users (Keanu Reeves, Woody Harrelson, and Robert Downey Jr.), and how one of them (Reeves) is an undercover cop assigned to infiltrate the people they are associated with. An impressive, ambitious experiment done in the "Waking Life" animation vein that director Richard Linklater failed with before - here it works wonders. Although the two films have next to no comparisons asides from the animation aspect (I guess you could make a case for the vernacular being almost to the advanced level that "Waking Life" featured as well), it does beg for an analysis. Instead of featuring talking heads with no dimensions other than their philosophical thoughts, Linklater fleshes out his animated characters in a workmanlike manner. The animation also does wonders for the story that in the sense that Linklater isn't just showing us another dirty, dark sort of drug story we've seen hundreds of times, as he brings even the most disgusting settings to life through the use of vibrant colors.

Keanu Reeves makes a strong case for being the most inconsistent actor in the film industry. He can give good, solid performances like this (as well as "Speed" and "The Matrix") or just downright awful performances ("Constantine", "Point Break", and "Street Kings"). Robert Downey Jr. is routinely terrific in a very funny role, complemented well by an equally off the wall Woody Harrelson. While it misses greatness by just a tad (the ending isn't as satisfying as it tries to be), it's definitely a film worth experiencing.