DVD Review: A Scanner Darkly

Go on then....

DVD Review: A Scanner Darkly (Richard Linklater, 2006, USA).

Phillip K Dick. His work has either inspired or was directly filmed in films such as Blade Runner, Minority Report and fucking Paycheck; some fucking incredible, some bloody shit. But now his work has spawned one of the most creative films of 2006, that film being A Scanner Darkly.
"Fred" (Keanu Reeves) is an undercover narcotics agent working to try and weed out the dealers behind a dangerous addictive substance known as Substance D. To try and do this, he takes on the guise, unbeknown to anyone else, of "Bob Arctor", a former family man who now lives his life being swept up in the drug-induced happenings of his housemates Barris (Robert Downey Jr) and Luckman (Woody Harrelson). During this time, "Fred" is assigned by his superior "Hank" to spy on "Bob Arctor" as he is suspected of being a major part of the Substance D circulation gang. At this time "Fred/Bob" is also becoming more and more reliant on Substance D and is trying to cling on to the one thing he believes he has, girlfriend/dealer Donna (Winona Ryder). Paranoia, depression and wackiness ensues....
The immeadiately striking thing about this is obviously the animation. Filmed as a live-action film and then animated over after, this follows Linklater's turgid first experiment "Waking Life" in creating an animated live-action world. While this felt pretentous in "Waking Life", it feels essential to this film. Not only are some things made possible which would be hard to otherwise, the key example being the "Scramble Suit" "Fred" wears to make himself unseen to people when not undercover, but it also adds immensly to the entire mood of the piece, the film does not feel as if it could really exist without this technique. For this to be not off-putting, but crucial to the film is an acheivement indeed.
The animation does not take away from the writing either. Having not read any of Dick's work, i can not judge the film badsed on its translation. What I can say is that the shifts in tone are awfully off-putting but the film still fully retains the atmosphere created. Some parts are awfully funny, the "Albino skinned lizard-bitches" scene is worth the price of the DVD alone. Rory Cochrane's Freck is also a very funny character full of nervous energy and his suicide attempt is one of the most strangely funny and yet uncomfortable scenes I have ever seen. When the film kicks into its absolute seriousness about an hour in, it really doesn't stop. the plot suddenly kicks in and is truly interesting as "Fred/Bob's" life comes crashing down around him and he literally loses his mind. The film ends on a cracking little couple of twists also and yet retains the sense of a happy ending. Strange considering a Thom Yorke song plays out over the credits....
All the actors do well, even though admittedly its not much of a stretch. Keanu Reeves plays confused. Robert Downey Jr plays a drugged up know it all. Woody Harrelson is permenantly spaced. Winona Ryder is a drugged up hotty. All do well without truly being great. Film doesn't need it.
Wicked film. Confusing both visually and in plot and just ridiuclously watchable. One for the DVD collection methinks. Love the cover art too.

Video: I'm assuming its digital-to-digital, certainly looks it. Great picture, maybe a tad sharp at times but very good. Would love to see the HD-DVD version!

Audio: Decent Dolby Digital 5.1 Soundtrack. Kicks in pretty much at the start but calms down. Very odd, good directional effects spotted throughout but its like they rushed the mix after the first 15 minutes. Perfectly good, but really could have been better.

Extras: Haven't viewed the commentary yet, will post comments when I get round to it. 2 decent documentaries the standard making-of was a bit standard but the animation documentary is very interesting. Doesn't outstay it's welcome and truly shows you how much heartfelt effort was put into getting the film made.

Cracking film, slightly meh DVD especially considering its potential but if you can find it for around the 11 pound mark as I did, well worth a buy. No HD-DVD version yet announced but if you are patient, I reckon it will come eventually.