Movie Review: Dark City

Yes I know I take forever to make a new post. O well. I started this in February and finally finished it two months later.

Dark City (1998)

directed/written by Alex Proyas

If there was any justice in this world, Dark City would have been a massive commercial success during its release in 1998. Honors and awards would have been thrown at this marvelous piece of modern film making, and me making this review, more than ten years later, should be completely unnecessary. However, this is of course not the case, because no one has heard of this movie, much less seen it. Don't feel bad if you have not heard of Dark City either, it's not your fault. This was just one of those movies that fell under the radar in the face of mind numbing blockbusters like Armageddon and Godzilla during its year of release. But fret not, because in the space of this review, I will attempt to explain why you should care about this movie, and hopefully recruit another fan into its substantial cult following.

Plot

Dark City revolves around the story of everyman John Murdoch (Rufus Sewell), who wakes up in a bathtub in a dank and dingy apartment bathroom. John has complete amnesia, and cannot recall any aspect of his life, not even his own name. He leaves the apartment in search for answers, eventually remembering his own name and tracking down his estranged wife Emma (Jennifer Connelly). During their meeting, John stumbles onto the realization that he is wanted for the murder of several female prostitutes, murders that he is certain he did not commit. John suddenly finds himself hounded by police inspector Frank Bumstead (William Hurt), who is unrelenting in his search for John. To make matters worse, John is also pursued by a mysterious group of pale cloaked men, all of whom seem to have extraordinary powers. Then there is Dr. Daniel Schreber (Kiefer Sutherland), a psychiatrist whom John was supposedly seeing prior to his amnesia. Schreber is adamant in finding John so he can help him, though he seems to know more about John and his connection to the city than he initially lets on. Throughout the course his search for the truth, John begins to question the very nature of the city: Why does it always appear to be nighttime in the city? Why does everyone but himself fall comatose at the stroke of midnight? Why is it that no one he speaks to can remember how to get to his old neighborhood? And who are these strangers that are chasing him? All of these questions are gradually answered, culminating in the explosive finale that will leave you breathless. Themes of simulated reality and the nature of the human soul also echo throughout the film, making it a much deeper viewing experience than one would assume.

what the hell is going on here? You'll find out when you watch the movie.

Good

One thing that I truly loved about Dark City is its atmosphere: the dark alleys, grimy buildings, and careful use of lighting in dark scenes all helped to create a presence that is as much of a character as any of the actual human roles. This amazing atmosphere is topped off with a stark 1950's retro style that while spectacular, seems oddly (perhaps purposefully) out of place. The special effects in Dark City are also quite amazing for their time, and have aged very well more than ten years after its release. I found the acting to be superb all around. Sewell is fantastic as protagonist John Murdoch, who gives a very subdued performance in keeping with Murdoch's everyman origins. Murdoch is not some courageous action hero, merely an average man who is lost in a perplexing conspiracy. Sewell coveys that sense of uncertain bewilderment very well in his performance. The supporting cast is excellent as well, with each character adding their own little touch to the world of Dark City.

oh bitch look out behind you!!!

But the most admirable aspect of the film is that it never insults the viewer's intelligence: there are no convenient plot twists, no major story points presented in an obvious manner, and no cheesy dialogue. Dark City does not assume that you are some kind of dimwit that needs to have your hand held when the movie presents too many questions and not enough answers. Part of the fun of this movie is that the viewer is just as lost as John in trying to figure out the mysteries of the city, and it invites you to find the answers along with him.

Bad

There aren't many negative critiques that I can give, because if you couldn't already tell, I clearly fucking love this movie. One minor thing that does stand out to me is that the ending is a tad bit predictable for a movie that has so many twists and turns. However, despite this predictability, the ending is ambiguous enough to foster some healthy post viewing discussion.

Bottom Line

Watch this movie. Now. If you don't want to watch this then we can never be friends. Ever. If you know me (ahem) then please come over and watch this with me because I have it on blu-ray. If you do not know me then please go rent this on DVD. Make sure that you pick up the version that includes the director's cut of Dark City and not the theatrical cut that was made for the slack jawed bumpkins (also known as the American movie going public) who found the original cut to be too confusing. There is no other movie out there like this and it is one of my all time favorites. The combination of excellent atmosphere, brilliant storytelling, and gripping pacing creates an unforgettable viewing experience.