Scanner Darkly

[adam]

I'm being cryogenically frozen until this movie comes out. Seriously, this is going to be awesome. I think the chances of me not liking this are approaching nil.

I used to be wary of Keenu, but holy crap was he awesome in Thumbsucker. That movie is worth renting for his character alone.

[stimpee]

So that people know what the hell Adam is talking about, i'll tell you some vital information. Its a film of the Philip K Dick novel directed by Richard Linklater (Before Sunrise/ Dazed & Confused).

Plot summary:
"A Scanner Darkly" is set in suburban Orange County, California in the future. It imagines a paranoid world in which it seems two of every 10 Americans has been hired by the government to spy on the other 8 -- in the name of national security and drug enforcement. When one reluctant government recruit (Reeves) is ordered to start spying on his friends, he is launched on a journey into the absurd, where outsourced government contractors largely define the social construct, where identities and loyalties are impossible to decode, and where not even his girlfriend can be trusted. The film highlights the inconsistencies and ironic consequences of the war on drugs.

In the future, there is a new drug called "Substance D", or simply, "Death". Bob Arctor is a dealer of this new drug, and he himself is also addicted to it. Fred is an undercover cop who wears a "scramble Suit" (which constantly re-animates the user's appearance and voice) all the time so people don't know his true identity. Fred, one day, is assigned to spy on Bob using "Scanners", and eventually destroy Bob's drug ring. However, one side effect of Substance D is the formation of multiple personalities, and because of the occurring circumstances, Bob and Fred don't realize that they are actually the same person, and that Fred is basically hunting-down himself.

Trailer at Apple.

[the mongoose]

can't wait....

[grady]

pictures from the production.

[b.miller]

i know someone who worked on this show.... word is very very good. the few scenes I've seen are awesome. the animation is not nearly as out there as Waking Life, much tighter and more consistent... but still cool

[joethelion]

that looks really really cool

I should probably read the book before I see the movie, shouldn't I?

I heard on the atease page (radiohead fan site) that the film was basically done, and tested well - save for the soundtrack. Radiohead were approached for the film, and although it seemed likely that they were going to do it... it didn't pan out

I'm kinda glad that RH aren't involved - as they would probably detract from the film itself and you'd get a lot of people there 'just for radiohead' know what I mean?

[adam]

yeah i agree with that sentiment

i think radiohead would be distracting

[grady]

It could be interesting if it were say a member or two from Radiohead scoring the film, similar to what Johnny Greenwood did for the film Body Song.

[adam]

Not that I don't think they'd do a good job, it's just they have such a strong identity on their own...I wouldn't want it overtop of everything else. Conclusion: I don't know what I'm talking about.

[Drix]

Oh, didn't even know they were doing a movie of it. After reading Do androids.. i got totally hooked on his books, but haven't been able to find this one yet. Will try to order it now. The trailer looks good!