I love this movie. I watch the DVD probably two or three times a year.
Unfortunately, it got completely overshadowed by The Matrix, which was released around the same time (and is also good.)
The setup: Craig Bierko is a hotshot computer programmer working on a new simulation that jacks your brain into a version of 1930s Los Angeles. His boss, played by Armin Mueller-Stahl, is murdered after discovering a Terrible Secret. And our hero Craig is not entirely sure if he’s innocent.
We also get a pre-24 Dennis Haysbert as the detective investigating the murder. And Gretchen Mol has some tasteful backal nudity.
And no one will believe me, because I’ve never been able to talk anyone into renting it. (So why don’t I just buy the DVD and show up with it --and appetizers and microbrews-- at friends’ houses after dinner?)
You mentioned some great performances (Armin Mueller-Stahl is perfect), but Vincent D’Onofrio does a spooky turn as The Bartender… who may or may not become more than just the bartender…
BTW, friedo, how do you feel about the ending? Y’know, the scene where the movie ends and then there are credits but before that there’s a final denouement that might be too hopeful for some, but then I’m a n optimist.
Dude, the first half-hour is just the sci-fi noir setup. All the good stuff comes after the first act. Actually, the first act moves surprisingly fast for such a film, IMHO. There’s a secret, a murder, amnesia, interrogation, and a mysterious heiress before the 25-minute mark.
Of course, we don’t know anything about the new world he wakes up in; it appears to be a paradise, but maybe it’s an oppressive dystopia.
The one problem I do have with the movie’s internal logic is this: had nobody realized what happens if you die inside the sim before? There are thousands of these worlds, presumably with millions of players. But whatever. That’s the kind of question that only comes up after the movie has already been thoroughly enjoyed.
BTW, in my OP I never mentioned how beautifully the thing is shot. The 1930s scenes are absolutely gorgeous.
There’s nothing really wrong with this movie. It’s just that The Matrix had nearly the same depth with better style and action, and Dark City had more depth with a creepier style that wasn’t as [s]lavishly 1930s noir.
I agree – this is an overlooked gem.
After I saw it, I dug up a copy of Daniel F. Galouye’s Simulacron 3, the 1964 book it’s based on. I was surprised by how much of the book made it into the film. There were changes, of course – 1964’s version of VR (and this book is held to be one of the first manifestations of it) is crude by 199 standards, but a lot of things I would have thought were recent additions were actually in the book.
There was a 1973 German TV adaptation by Rainer Fassbinder, Welt am Draht (World on a Wire). I’m curious about that, now, too.
As has been pointed out on this board, another overshadowed VR movie that came out at the same time was XistenZ, by David Cronenberg. Worth watching, as well.
One thing I did like about The Matrix is that it didn’t get involved in endless “Is it Real, or is it VR? How about Now” games, which are dreadfully easy (and annoying) to fall into. In The Matrix it was always clear which level of reality you were on (except for two carefully chosen points).
I really like the book - called Counterfeit World in the UK - and have owned it for decades!
But I’ve never seen the film in the racks to buy over here… One day I’ll see it, but I’ve no idea when!
And i’m also on the look out for that Fassbinder release CalMeacham mentioned. (When I actually remember about it, that is!)
I haven’t seen it before, but I did like how it fits. Feel free to steal it.
Despite my slight snark, I do like the movie. Probably about as much as The Matrix considered on its own. Seeing that it’s based on a book, I might have to go check the book out.
Saw it, liked it, have forgotten enough that I just added it to the top of my rental queue.
As for XistenZ, it was certainly interesting. However, I can say with assurance it’s not a film to bring over with beer and appetizers, because even if you love it, you probably don’t want to watch it while eating!
I would disagree. The Matrix was certainly a better action movie, but it didn’t have nearly the depth that The Thirteenth Floor did. And Dark City suffered somewhat from the fact that it didn’t make any sense whatsoever. The Thirteenth Floor managed to do better than either of the others at actually getting the viewer to think (though, to be fair, I don’t think that was The Matrix’s purpose).
It’s a good film (along with the underrated Dark City). I watched this years ago as a student at one of my university’s regular movie nights. It was pretty packed session and on the whole the general reaction seemed to be positive.
Except when
Gretchen Mol’s character admits that she fell in love with Bierko’s VR character.
Everyone hooted and jeered, with comments like, “OMG, I can’t believe she said that”, eyeroll-eyeroll-eyeroll.
:dubious: Very strange reaction that. I had no problem with the scene itself.
I found the characters in XistenZ – what a pretentious name – fairly flat, and certainly didn’t care much about them. I think J J-L comes from the Kevin Kostner/Steven Seagall/Andie McDowell school of one-note acting, and I have actively avoided any movie with her in it since.
But that might be because I saw XisWhateVer after I’d been impressed with 13th Floor, Dark City and Frequency, where there were solid SciFi concepts, and I cared more for the characters.
:dubious: Very strange reaction that. I had no problem with the scene itself.