Review of Primer (2004) by Jacob M — 28 Jun 2014

It begins with four men working on a project in their garage. There is a voice-over, explaining to us that we need to listen, and it couldn't be more precise because after this, the rest of the movie means nothing...well, unless you do what you're told and listen. If you did listen, then you are going to be amazed by the complexity and actually some beauty to this intense and extremely fascinating sci-fi thriller.

It centers around two engineers who accidentally create a time machine. They begin trying to understand it and what follows is them using this machine that no one knows about for their benefits. It's a film full of ideas and a LOT of voice-over. This movie reminded me a lot of other high-concept films such as Inception, Twelve Monkeys, and especially Donnie Darko.

You can probably put this into any perspective, into any terms and you still won't have the exact answer. It challenges your mind to look deeper and harder to find the meaning of the movie and actually, after your first viewing, I highly doubt you'll understand it completely. Wait, then after your second viewing, you probably won't understand it completely either. This is why I love this movie.

I talk about this also in my Blue Valentine review, but this film is the exact reason why I love independent films so much. They don't go for the obvious hit, they get creative and they make a movie that isn't clichéd or full of special effects, they make something new. This movie made something new. It created an idea so incredibly original and so incredibly stimulating that I can't believe this is this filmmaker's first movie.

Primer is an intriguing film full of very high concept ideas and a convoluted story that will have you on the edge of your seat, and wondering what the heck is going on. Although the first trip through it may be a bit stressful for some not as eager for a challenge, but just stick with it and even watch it another time and you'll begin to understand the meanings of it. It's a great movie that challenges your mind more than almost any other movie. Complicatedly beautiful and very, very interesting Primer goes above and beyond and I praise it for that. I would go to the extent to call it a minor masterpiece.