Simply put, this is a whip-smart science fiction movie that is all about the nature and reliability of memory, and how it interacts with personality.
I initially thought that the 9 and 10 ratings in the reviews here were a little generous, but made sense when considering its budget and the notoriety of the actors and director. Then I watched it again four days later. It's a rare movie that not only stands up to that kind of scrutiny, but offers up overlooked details and becomes significantly more moving and emotional. This absolutely deserves a 9.2 without a handicap, and for some context, in my book District 9 is an 8.9, Attack the Block and The Skin I Live In get 8.7, and Limitless and Source Code get 8.5. All movies I loved, but none are exceptional in the way this is.
It has a very effective thriller structure, but you have to pay attention and be on top of what's going on (virtually every external reviewer pretty obviously didn't; there's no way the second act is slow or repetitive if you're following the story). Like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, it spends almost no money at all on the tech. Ignore the lack of whiz-bang and attend to the ideas.
What stuns me on the second viewing is the depth of the character story, and the quality of the performances from the mostly unknown cast. The visuals are stylish, and the editing and score are both very effective. This is absolutely a writer / director to watch, big-time.
I initially thought that the 9 and 10 ratings in the reviews here were a little generous, but made sense when considering its budget and the notoriety of the actors and director. Then I watched it again four days later. It's a rare movie that not only stands up to that kind of scrutiny, but offers up overlooked details and becomes significantly more moving and emotional. This absolutely deserves a 9.2 without a handicap, and for some context, in my book District 9 is an 8.9, Attack the Block and The Skin I Live In get 8.7, and Limitless and Source Code get 8.5. All movies I loved, but none are exceptional in the way this is.
It has a very effective thriller structure, but you have to pay attention and be on top of what's going on (virtually every external reviewer pretty obviously didn't; there's no way the second act is slow or repetitive if you're following the story). Like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, it spends almost no money at all on the tech. Ignore the lack of whiz-bang and attend to the ideas.
What stuns me on the second viewing is the depth of the character story, and the quality of the performances from the mostly unknown cast. The visuals are stylish, and the editing and score are both very effective. This is absolutely a writer / director to watch, big-time.