Last night on the Michigan Wolverine Campus came a college test screening of DARK CITY. These Wolverines spies got in past Strelnikov and Bratchenko, without so much as a hitch. So it was that Jed Eckert (review 1), Matt Eckert (review 2), Erica Teasdale (review 3) and Robert (review 4). So it is on this early morning's red dawn that their reviews see the light of another free day. Almost makes me put on Poledouris music... too bad I don't have that score... Please don't send in any more Dark City reviews, I see the movie Friday Night and will be reviewing it then. So here's the Wolverine Reviews...
Whats up kid. I'm a supporter ("fan" for 'fanatic' and the only people I'm fanatic about are my wife and kids....) and a grad student at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. About eleven minutes ago, I just left a special screening of DARK CITY, and I wanted to let you know what I thought.....
This is NOT a "run don't walk" film.
But it IS a "brisk walk" film. One that I would've paid for...and given my graduate salary which supports a family which JUST increased by one on 2.1.1998, that's saying a LOT. I guess the best thing I can say for it, is that its an "experiential" type film. An experience which cannot be fully realized through home video--because the claustrophobic element which drips from every shot like ochre jelly would be sorely missed. Don't get me wrong. The performances were decent--with the possible exception of Kiefer Sutherland, whose frantic chopped sentences, left me with the distinct impression of the Alice in Wonderland character who was always dreadfully late.
But they were understated, and I believe they were SUPPOSED to be so. The very essences of the characters were to have a sick pallor to them, and the best way to approach this I suppose WOULD be to let lines slowly drip without emotion. William Hurt does this really well. It's his "thing" I think.
Anyways back to the environment. The best comparison is actually NOT with Scott's BLADERUNNER, but with Antonio Furst's Gotham City. In fact one of the first scenes reminds me so much of that of the '89 BATMAN I thought they might have used the same sets. Huge spires with interlocking bridges...architectural styles which lend one to think that the urban planner was either brilliant, on crack....or probably both. Gear (sorry...I mean "clothes") which is bland and utterly timeless. And the colors....we're talking about putrescent greens, soiled browns, dirty grays, and a strange dark emerald filter that the director places on the camera lens throughout most of the film. It's this you're looking for...
This...and The Strangers.
First time I saw them is about two minutes into the film. John Murdoch, the central character (who doesn't know who he is, but only knows someone or something is after him) is just turning a corner of his (?) apartment building when we see them through the elevator windows. Dark, bald, menacing, with long old-school overcoats and...fedoras? At this point I'm thinking....these mothafuckas are HARD! And this impression doesn't let up. With names like "Mr. Hand," and "Mr. Quick" as well as the power to mold reality and float like demons in the night....you've seen the trailer, you get the impression. When we finally see all of them in their "element" there is the undeniable feeling of Power, which is only slightly diminished by a couple of oddly placed lines.
As you can see I'm not trying to give too much of the plot away, but for those of you who are interested in action, I can say this. The director does an excellent job of speeding up the pace of the film when it calls for it, with quick shots of Murdoch racing through the streets while being chased by The Strangers, and a finale to knock the SHIT out of you. Put it this way. We're talking about a psi-war the likes of which I haven't seen on film. This isn't 12 Monkeys. This isn't Bladerunner.
But this is a damn good movie...one that--again--you should briskly walk too.....
REVIEW 2
There was an advance screening of "Dark City" at the University of Micigan tonight. While the movie is no "Blade Runner," it was very good. After waiting for about 2 hours in line, the Cinema Guild (the people running the show) let us in, confiscating the passes they gave us and letting us settle in. Then the guy in charge gives us this whole deal about the survey cards and only take one if you are serious because they don't have enough. Well, I didn't get one, but would have loved to tell them that they made a very good film. Anyway, things are going smoothly, then 35 minutes into the thing, the mood is killed when someone didn't change the reel and we got black. Well, the audience was none to happy, especially when we found out by screwing up they showed one part out of order (there was a lot of murmering when we got to it for the second time in the film where it made more sense).
I would have to agree with Hallenback's review that to give away the plot would ruin the movie. The real gift of this movie is it unfolds as Rufus Sewell's character learns what's going on (except for Sutherland's voice over in the beginning). The audience gets to go back and say, "Ahh, that makes sense now." My only problem with the film was how Proyas mis-directed Sutherland (think Jennifer Jason Leigh's Hepburn-esque performance in "The Hudsucker Proxy"). Sutherland's limp and stutter were annoying, and the weak link in an otherwise awsome film. "Dark City" is shot very well, giving it a very ominous feel. It really compliments the sets which are breath taking and downright frightening. All of this adds up and gives the film a great intensity.
I've already seen too many films this year, and I'd have to say this was the second best (behind Jake Kadsan's "Zero Effect").
REVIEW 3
Hey, Harry. just wanted to drop you a line and let you know that hallenbeck speaks the truth - dark city kicked out. it's probably sneaking all around the country this week, and we here at umich were lucky enough to be plied with lovely dark city posters and a print that only stopped once. hallenbeck may have creamed himself a few too many times, as i'm still smitten by blade runner as like nothing else in this world, but dark city is worthy as a runner up. the effects were awesome, and the rendering of the city was beautiful. the plot is definitely mind-bending but not unintelligible. of course, i kinda have to wonder how rufus sewell and the mad crazy robert-blake-in-lost-highway lookalike 'strangers' enjoyed doing take after take of just staring at each other, waiting for the effects to be put in, doing their little mind-meld. and i'll have to think twice next time i see masses of bald-headed guys with chattering teeth who are described in exactly the same terms as the borg.
there's a rowboat scene that looked like it was straight out of city of lost children. the look and feel of the film is often very much the same, design-wise. this is a good thing.
one complaint: whoever told kiefer sutherland to affect the speech pattern he displayed througout the film needs serious help. it was a little distracting.
william hurt was great, because he's william hurt. rufus sewell isn't exactly my cup of tea in the male department (give me malkovich or irons or *swoon* ralph fiennes and i'm one happy girl) as connelly is to hallenbeck. the rest of the acting was fine, although there was none of the quiet desperation in the love between sewell and connelly (if we're going to be drawing blade runner comparisons here) that breaks my heart every time i see harrison ford and sean young. this movie is a visual feast that left my head spinning, dark, shadowy, wet, and wonderful. hope you'll like it.
REVIEW 4
I am a long time reader, but this is the first time I've had the chance to contribute. Anyway, being a film major at The University of Michigan, I was fortunate enough to be able to attend an advance screening of Dark City. I know you've had reviews up for a couple weeks now, but what the hell, here's my review:
I've heard some good buzz headed into this film and I must say...it didn't disappoint. I won't go as far as Hallenbeck and say that this is the best sci-fi flick since Bladerunner, but it was damn cool. I wasn't a big Crow fan but, I was really impressed by Alex Proyas vision of this dark and hopeless atmosphere. This city literally had its own "feel" to it. And it was a feeling of confusion and despair. Some of the scenes were done so well that I was amazed. I don't want to give any deep spoilers so I'll say no more on this.
The villains of this film were aliens referred to as Strangers. The strangers are dying out. They need a new way to survive. They need something they don't have, something distinctly....human. These strangers also have some really interesting powers and the effects used to display them were top notch. The make-up on these guys was also great. These weren't your run of the mill, "generic" aliens. These are the "creepy as hell" aliens that we haven't seen in any pictures for a long time. And that's all I'm going to say about them.
Then there was Kiefer Sutherland's Dr. Schreber. But I will say that Kiefer did a great job portraying this mad scientist. The protagonist of the story, John Murdoch, was played by Rufus Sewell. I've never seen him in anything before, but I was impressed with him in this film. He was a complex character and I think he did a good job in portraying these emotions in the film. I think we'll be seeing Rufus in other flicks soon.
That brings me to Jennifer Connelly, who played Emma Murdoch (or did she?). Her role wasn't huge, but definitely was significant. And I think she did a good job with it.
Overall I think this was an excellent science fiction film. It was by no means ground breaking, but it did make you think. It had cool characters, great villains, a good cast and really cool special effects. Not to mention the soundtrack! The soundtrack was one of the coolest I've heard in a while and I agree with Hallenbeck that it should be released. What more could you want? When it comes out on the 27th, go see it. I will...again.
So their you have it Harry, my first of what will hopefully many contributions to AICN. I am kind of on a tight schedule, so this is the best I could present at this time. I hope it can be of some use to you. Actually, the guy who presented the film to us said that more advanced screenings will be headed to UofM. So, you may be hearing from me again...
