Review of Looker (1981) by Joshua L — 02 Apr 2013

Dr. Larry Roberts (Albert Finney), a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon, is puzzled when four beautiful models working in television commercials request cosmetic surgery to make changes so minor as to be imperceptible to the naked eye. When these models later start dying under mysterious circumstances, he discovers they are all linked to the same advertisement research firm.The Digital Matrix research firm rates advertising models using a scoring system to measure the combined visual impact of various physical attributes in television commercials. In an experiment to increase their scores, some models are sent to Dr. Roberts to get cosmetic surgery to maximize their visual impacts. Though the models are physically perfect after the surgeries, they still are not as effective as desired, so the research firm decides to use a different approach. Each model is offered a contract to have her body scanned digitally to create 3D computer-generated models, then the 3D models are animated for use in commercials. The contract deals seem to be incredibly lucrative for the models: once their bodies are represented digitally, they get a paycheck for life, never having to work again, since their digital model is used for all their future work in commercials. However, when these same models start dying under mysterious circumstances, Roberts becomes suspicious and decides to investigate Digital Matrix. He has a strong interest in investigating the deaths: he is considered a prime suspect by the police (from evidence planted at the scene of one of the murders) and his most recent patient, Cindy (Susan Dey), is the last of the models to be digitally scanned. During his investigation, Roberts discovers some advanced-technology devices the Digital Matrix corporation is using to hypnotize consumers into buying the products they advertise. He also discovers the Light Ocular-Oriented Kinetic Emotive Responses (L.O.O.K.E.R.) gun, a light pulse device that gives the illusion of invisibility by instantly mesmerizing its victims into losing all sense of time...

Michael Crichton's "Looker" is challenging in so many places. Been wanting to see this for a long time. However, the plot holes (there is a different version with less plot holes..) are bigger than The Grand Canyon, the acting is quite rocky and Albert Finney seems to have no idea what he's is doing in this movie and why he is in this movie. "Looker" comments upon and satirizes media, advertising, TV's effects on the populace, and ridiculous standard of beauty, which in a way are topics as current in 2013 as it was back in 1981. There´s some sort of atmospheric feeling to "Looker" that makes you think of a Brian De Palma thriller, but it hardly reaches De Palma standard. There appear to be two versions of the film. TV airings have been of a slightly different edit, containing a sequence in which Reston, after detaining Roberts and Cindy in his mansion, explains why he had the other models murdered (the reason for the killings is a plot hole in the theatrical film). He says the models were the 'measurements' and that it was corporate policy to 'shred old documents' that competitors might use. On the DVD commentary track, Crichton alludes to the difficulty of editing Looker, which perhaps accounts for why the TV version contains more exposition. This makes no sense really. How can this very important piece of dialogue have been edited out? Nah, "Looker" was not what I hoped for. The only enjoyment for me was to see the stunning Susan Dey, my favourite from "L.A. Law.