I absolutely loved the concept of this film! I'd never heard of the short story that this film is "based" on, so went in completely fresh to it.
I was instantly drawn to the the science-fiction, dystopian, futuristic idea that a humans emotions could be medically controlled. Ever more intrigued once I was that the director was Joseph Kosinski, who has delved into the sci-fi genre before with "Oblivion" which I feel is under-appreciated. Combine that with a solid cast, even tho I don't really like Miles Teller I was still willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, I was interested to see the finished product!
After all of this, I'll admit that although I enjoyed this film, I think it was a shame that Kosinski decided to go down this route with the source material! I completely understand the appeal to him and the producers of making this a stylish, sleek, modern and more mainstream thriller for Netflix! It will appeal to a wider audience and that means a lot!
A lot of this film works, the look, performances, production design, technology within the story, cinematography and directing are all solid! However, this film had so much more to give in terms of story and genre! The potential of the world that is created in this film is limitless and should have produced a film that was unforgettable.
There are two main areas to me where Kosinski, the writers and producers went wrong :
Firstly the genre! Instead of being a fun, light thriller for the masses.....this film should have been a haunting, psychological thriller/horror film! The controlling and medical aspects of the film were meant to be pulled in that direction, it was teed up. Get rid of the jokes, pop music soundtrack and replace it with a more uncomfortable, mature and ambiguous story. Make the audience guess more, instead of serving them everything on a platter!
Second aspect that I'd change is casting! Although I enjoyed seeing Chris Hemsworth doing something different and being a "villain" I don't think it really worked. Mainly due to the fact that Hemsworth is too much of a like presence of screen, he doesn't have that darkness within him. You needed an actor that can have an wolf in sheeps clothing vibe, can be pleasant however with an unnerving edge to them. Jake Gyllenhaal, Ryan Gosling, Christian Bale, Joaquin Phoenix, Robert Pattinson.....those types of actors would have been more appropriate! I wouldn't actually get rid of Hemsworth all together, I'd actually replace Miles Teller with him. Yet again is extremely bland and wooden, although not his worst work I'll admit. I just can't ever seem to sympathise with his characters.
1 - Make genre a psychological thriller/horror 2- Replace Miles Teller with Chris Hemsworth and hire another actor to be the villain.
Overall though I did enjoy the film that was made, it is solid throughout and very likeable! I was just more annoyed because this film will become forgettable. It had so much potential to be something really really special, it had all the ingredients there!
70% out of 100.
I was instantly drawn to the the science-fiction, dystopian, futuristic idea that a humans emotions could be medically controlled. Ever more intrigued once I was that the director was Joseph Kosinski, who has delved into the sci-fi genre before with "Oblivion" which I feel is under-appreciated. Combine that with a solid cast, even tho I don't really like Miles Teller I was still willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, I was interested to see the finished product!
After all of this, I'll admit that although I enjoyed this film, I think it was a shame that Kosinski decided to go down this route with the source material! I completely understand the appeal to him and the producers of making this a stylish, sleek, modern and more mainstream thriller for Netflix! It will appeal to a wider audience and that means a lot!
A lot of this film works, the look, performances, production design, technology within the story, cinematography and directing are all solid! However, this film had so much more to give in terms of story and genre! The potential of the world that is created in this film is limitless and should have produced a film that was unforgettable.
There are two main areas to me where Kosinski, the writers and producers went wrong :
Firstly the genre! Instead of being a fun, light thriller for the masses.....this film should have been a haunting, psychological thriller/horror film! The controlling and medical aspects of the film were meant to be pulled in that direction, it was teed up. Get rid of the jokes, pop music soundtrack and replace it with a more uncomfortable, mature and ambiguous story. Make the audience guess more, instead of serving them everything on a platter!
Second aspect that I'd change is casting! Although I enjoyed seeing Chris Hemsworth doing something different and being a "villain" I don't think it really worked. Mainly due to the fact that Hemsworth is too much of a like presence of screen, he doesn't have that darkness within him. You needed an actor that can have an wolf in sheeps clothing vibe, can be pleasant however with an unnerving edge to them. Jake Gyllenhaal, Ryan Gosling, Christian Bale, Joaquin Phoenix, Robert Pattinson.....those types of actors would have been more appropriate! I wouldn't actually get rid of Hemsworth all together, I'd actually replace Miles Teller with him. Yet again is extremely bland and wooden, although not his worst work I'll admit. I just can't ever seem to sympathise with his characters.
1 - Make genre a psychological thriller/horror 2- Replace Miles Teller with Chris Hemsworth and hire another actor to be the villain.
Overall though I did enjoy the film that was made, it is solid throughout and very likeable! I was just more annoyed because this film will become forgettable. It had so much potential to be something really really special, it had all the ingredients there!
70% out of 100.