Year: 1981
Duration: 01:29:37
Directed by: Michael Crichton
Actors: Albert Finney, James Coburn, Susan Dey
Language: English
Country: USA
Also known as: L’ordinateur meurtrier, Vidéo crime, Las víctimas, Kein Mord von der Stange
Description: L.O.O.K.E.R. (LIGHT OCULAR ORIENTED KINETIC ENERGETIC RESPONSERS) IS PURE 80s CHEESE THAT TRANSCENDS A FEW GENRES. PART DRAMA, PART ACTION MOVIE, PART SCI-FI AND PART PARANOIA THRILLER. GOING IN, YOU SHOULDN’T EXPECT THIS TO BE AN EXAMPLE OF GENIUS AT WORK. IT IS WHAT IT IS. A MINDLESS ROMP WITH EXAGGERATED ACTING AND 80s FX. IT’S KINKY AND IN-LINE WITH VINTAGE DE PALMA FILMS OF THE LATE 70s/EARLY 80s (BODY DOUBLE & DRESSED TO KILL COME TO MIND).
IN HIS TRUE VOCATION, CRICHTON HAS PUBLISHED HIS FAIR SHARE OF CLUNKERS, BUT IT NEVERTHELESS COMES AS A MILD SHOCK TO DISCOVER THAT LOOKER IS AN ABOMINABLE SCREENPLAY WRUNG FOR EVERY OUNCE OF CINEMA, IF NOT REDEEMED, BY AN UNHERALDED VISIONARY EYE. ON THE PLUS SIDE, THE FILM DOES BOAST TWO SUBVERSIVE, FORMALLY RADICAL SET-PIECES THAT, THROUGH THE AID OF ACE CINEMATOGRAPHER PAUL LOHMANN (WHO BECAME A MASTER OF ‘SCOPE AS ROBERT ALTMAN’S GO-TO DP IN THE 70s), ARE WORTHY OF DE PALMA HIMSELF.
IT’S AN ENJOYABLE PIECE OF SCI-FI THRILLER FLUFF AND FUN TO WATCH COBURN AND FINNEY SQUARE OFF. DEY’S NUDE SCENE IS ALSO A NICE LITTLE BONUS. PRESENTED IN A WONDERFUL WIDESCREEN TRANSFER WITH A DOLBY 2.0 SURROUND AUDIO TRACK. THERE’S ALSO A FEATURE-LENGTH COMMENTARY TRACK THAT CONTAINS SELDOM-HEARD PRODUCTION ANECDOTES ABOUT THIS FILM AND OTHERS SUCH AS CONGO. THERE’S ALSO THE INCLUSION OF A MICHAEL CRICHTON INTRO TO THE FILM.
Review: The original title of the film «Looker» translated to English has several meanings. Of these, the plot of the film literally correspond to two: the colloquial ” viewer ” and the more general caretaker / guardian / caretaker . The film is the first and the second . The second work in the empire of billionaire John Reston and engaged in secret high-tech developments to manipulate the consciousness of viewers , ” look out ” for them, of course in the interests of his boss . First consume these products .
The film would not have been so interesting against the background of today’s technological possibilities of cinema , if not unique his team . Michael Crichton , director and screenwriter film – the most popular American science fiction writer and Hollywood screenwriter , author of thrillers in the field of medical and biological science fiction, including all the stories about Jurassic Park . This film explores the possibility of manipulation of consciousness . Next to the modern blockbuster computer graphics and special effects look somewhat ” pristine “, but for 1981 it must have been a breakthrough. The film is poised at the crossroads of science fiction, thriller and a sharp satirical comedy. Most of the action takes place indoors , which makes the film more like a TV production.
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