Film Of The Week #81 - Dark City

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpS1ynQbDSk

Great Sci Fi is something which we rarely see more than a fleeting glimpse of. Every year we get one or two sci fi films which do decently in cinema before disappearing into obscurity. Very few of them go on to be called classics though every now and again a sci fi film will cross over into the mainstream garnering not only critical acclaim but also commercial success, Blade Runner and The Matrix being the perfect examples of this. Both were films which slowly built into unstoppable monsters and are now looked upon as genre defining pieces of cinema.

One film which has always deserved more than the quiet critical appreciation it achieved is Dark City. Long etched in my top 5 films of all time it is one of the most visually stunning, intelligent and awe inspiring films ever made. Largely ignored upon it's initial release in 1998 the film slowly began to earn an underground following until the The Matrix was released the following year, and sent Dark City scurrying to the dark. The similarities between both films are numerous. Both concern an ordinary man dealing with a world hidden beneath his own and how he alone can save humanity. Visually both are strikingly similar, in fact The Matrix reused sets from Dark city and both share a similar atmosphere, though at the end of the day Dark City remains the superior film, it could even be subtitled the thinking mans Matrix.

The plot revolves around John played by an understated Rufus Sewell, who wakes up in a bathtub one day with no memory of whom he is. Upon discovering a dead hooker in his bed room Murdoch goes in search of his identity. Searching for him are his wife who hasn't seen him in weeks and the police who believe that he is a serial killer responsible for the murder of 6 women.

When approaching the film it really is best to know as little as possible beforehand, as it is one of the rare breed of film which sets out initially to confuse the viewer before slowly drawing them into its world and offering a glimpse behind the curtains. The original cut of the film featured a studio added voice over which gave away several of the films twists before the credits even rolled. Anyone watching the initial cut of the film is advised to mute their TV until Dr. Schreber (Kiefer Sutherland) looks at his pocket watch.

So many reviewers have accused the film of being all style over substance but to take this viewpoint is to completely miss the point. Yes, the film is amazingly stylistic but the entire film hinges on the strong, layered plot which rewards repeated viewings. The newly released directors cut is a joy to watch, it allows the film to breathe and gives the characters more time to develop and slowly become more human before our eyes.The use of effects which rely more on imagination than computer trickery has lend the film a timeless look, as fresh today as it was a decade ago. Alex Proyas eye for detail is unmatched, take any scene, even the smallest most insignificant scene and watch as every part of the screen comes alive.

Remember the last time you sat down and saw something which exceeded all your expectations and truly surprised you? No, well Dark City is a film that will do just this. It's one of the rarest breed of film, it not only challenges the viewer but entertains them at the same time.

The recently released Directors Cut is the way to go for it not only contains the film as Alex Proyas intended but the theatrical cut also. So if you enjoy cinema which does'nt set out to lead you by the hand or enjoy great Sci Fi then you simply cannot go wrong with Dark City.

MooseJam

and Jennifer Connelly is in it

MooseJam

MooseJam wrote: »

and Jennifer Connelly is in it

That she is and should be reason enough for anyone to watcht the film though I did admit that I just can't look at her the same since Requiem for a Dream.

madrab

watched this years ago & really enjoyed it

cabrwab

I got this on a special in xtra-vision on a x-rental! Worth the E5.

Now to pester the woman about watching it tonight

Just wondering what happened to Alex Proyas? Loved this and the crow visually/styling.
Must look him up on IMDB

cabrwab

Oh okay, he directed I-Robot. Must've being the reason i enjoyed it for some wierd reason i could never put my finger on!

madrab

madrab wrote: »

watched this years ago & really enjoyed it

I cannot recommend the new Directors Cut enough. It takes an all ready great film and improves upon it no end, I really do wish that I could watch the film again with no prior knowledge.

zAbbo

Dragging this up.

Just watched the BD of this last night, directors cut.

Great film, and I'm glad I waited until BD to watch it

bnt

This is the Velvet Underground of movies: not that many people saw it at the time, but many of them went on to make movies of their own. I'm definitely going to look for the Director's Cut.

stevejazzx

watched it on the op's recommendation - very enjoyable - the amount of influences one can see in it is amazing and it has obviously influenced a lot of directors since and videogames (bioshock anyone?) it's hard for me say that I think it's a truly amazing film though becasue the main plot is, for me, a little sparse.

I didn't really get the why the city had to be changed or even why they thought that mixing up memories was a way to the human soul? whereas the matrixs' overall idea was more coherent - a whole human civilisation asleep functioning as batteries for machines. I found the imagery very immersive and engaging but again the dialogue struggled a bit imo. Also I do not get why, when the mr. hand was injected with Johns memories he (mr. hand) went to the prostitute that the real John visits after he wakes up -surely that memory could not have been in included in dr scrabers syringe with which he injects mr. hand becasue John only experiences it after he wakes up? Is this a mistake? Anyways it's hugely enjoyable and very intersting movie

. Thanks op.