Rent Dark City on Amazon Video (paid link)
Written by: Alex Proyas (story) Alex Proyas and Lem Dobbs and David S. Goyer (screenplay)
Directed by: Alex Proyas
Starring: Rufus Sewell, Kiefer Sutherland, Jennifer Connelly, William Hurt
Rated: R
Watch the trailer
Plot
A man struggles with memories of his past, which include a wife he cannot remember and a nightmarish world from which no one else ever seems to wake up.
Verdict
A detective and his suspect are trying to solve the same mystery in a strange city that only generates more questions as this progresses. This is a fun mash up of 40s noir detective and sci-fi as we explore a perpetually dark city that can't be escaped. This city and the look of the film is completely unique. It's a story and style that stands out from the typical.
Watch It.
Review
I really don't like the opening narration as it adds nothing and reveals the mystery too early, that this city is an experiment by aliens. We don't know exactly what that means, and I'd rather find that out during the movie. After the unnecessary introduction, everything seems to slow down and stop just before Murdoch (Rufus Sewell) wakes up with no memory.
This really builds the mystery as Murdoch has no clue what's going on. He tries to retrace his steps but soon discovers strange men are chasing him down. The cops think he's a serial killer, and if that's not enough he seems to have telekinetic powers.
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| William Hurt, Rufus Sewell play Bmustead, Murdoch |
This has such a cool look and style. I can't think of any other movies that combine a 40s aesthetic with a sci-fi bent and make the world perpetually dark. People drive Studebakers, and never wonder about the lack of light. As I got further into this, I realized the opening voice over gave away too much. It would have been more fun to guess this is an experiment.
Murdoch is trying to solve an impossible mystery while trapped in this city. His search for answers only makes things more confusing. He's seeks a beach just outside of the city, but whenever he asks people how to get there, they soon forget the way. Murdoch finds a deranged cop that talks about how nothing is real and how he has no memories. They seem to have a connection as Murdoch is experiencing something similar, without the ranting.
Murdoch does find allies that believe him, like the cop chasing him, Bumstead (William Hurt). We get a big explainer about what's going on, which is fine, but it makes the narration at the beginning all the more strange. Why give the mystery away at the beginning and also explain it later?
This is such a cool concept and a great twist on the 40s detective genre. It's just different, from the story and concept to the look
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