Spain | Uruguay | Germany 2014
Opening August 20, 2015
Directed by: Tarsem Singh
Writing credits: David Pastor, Àlex Pastor
Principle actors: Ryan Reynolds, Matthew Goode, Ben Kingsley, Michelle Dockery, Victor Garber
Self/less almost defies writing a review about, because to know too much you miss the full impact of this film. So, on a need-to-know basis: Damian Hale (Kingsley), “the man who built New York” is stinking rich and ruthless “I made you, I’ll break you”. He is also dying. His daughter (Dockery) thinks he is a “manipulative bastard”; business partner and trusted friend Martin (Garber) laments the corporation “won’t be the same without you”. Grasping at straws, Damien meets with Albright (Goode), discusses biogenetics, and then proceeds. Chillingly though, the vessel (Reynolds) his consciousness now resides in has its own secrets. These entail a history that includes a mother (Martinez) and daughter, and facilitates exposing a dangerous chameleon (Derek Luke). What Damian misread is that “… miracles come at a cost”.
Tarsem Singh directs a well-acted and put together sci-fi thriller. The outré concept is somewhat tricky to wrap one’s mind around. Composers are Dudu Aram and Antonio Pinto, cinematograph is Brendan Galvin, and Robert Duffy edits. Production designer Tom Foden and team have chosen an interesting look and aesthetic feel as well. It will be easy to walk out and say, “oh, just a movie”; it’s harder to walk out and ponder a concept beyond our reality. 116 minutes ()