 "Photo: Photo Courtesy of Lakeshore Entertainment")
Since their beginnings, the art of filmmaking and technology have formed a real bond. One could describe them as a couple that has been together for around 100 years, give or take a few, depending on the argument. Enhanced sound, computer effects, and of course the high-definition digital cameras of today are even behind recognized films like “Sin City” and “Public Enemies.”
What happens though when technology isn't just behind the scenes, but is also a major basis for a story? You might receive an intensely stylized vision from the likes of writer and director duo Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor (Neveldine/Taylor).
Their newest film “Gamer” is high on action and technology, pushing them both to absurd extremes. Kable, the alias of Gerard Butler's character, is a death row inmate fighting for his freedom in corporation-funded war arenas.
This 'game' doesn't leave him in control; he cannot act under his own free will. Each inmate in the arena is controlled by someone on the outside, like a string-less marionette, or a video game. If there were to be a mix of “Gladiator,” “The Running Man” and “The Sims” game franchise, this would be it.
Explosions and violence are plentiful and necessary for the combat-driven setting. The camera focuses heavily on placing the action above the audience while looking up at the characters. Frequently it’s placed below waist level, and at times when bullets are involved, it's somewhere around the knees.
At one point the camera even makes a run towards the cement ground, which felt a bit odd. This overall grandiose effect may or may not be noticeable for some, but could irritate others, although, this gripe doesn't affect the characters.
Mr. Butler is able to show a blend of subtlety and roughness as Kable, while other well-known actors give performances that are equal in quality. Michael C. Hall (“Dexter”), Terry Crews (“The Longest Yard”), Amber Valletta (“Hitch”), and Christopher 'Ludacris' Bridges (“Max Payne”) are all endowed with the skill to perform, but two stand out in particular: Mr. Hall and Mr. Crew.
Both men participate in moments where they tap into their musical prowess to provide some of the most bizarre scenes in an action movie, possibly ever. With those lyrical lapses in time, this odd direction may make quite an impression, an incredibly strange and unbelievably hilarious impression.
Since the film is set in the not-so-distant future, it shines a spotlight on the anonymity that the Internet equips its users. The pushes to the logical limit are often disturbing as this is a world where anyone has the ability to control another human being, from the privacy of their own home. Just imagine a few indecent or suggestive scenarios and it should be easy to guess where “Gamer” travels.
With that said and without spoilers, “Gamer” is a film that earns its ‘R’ rating easily. The ride taken through Mr. Neveldine’s and Mr. Taylor's world is jarring and fast-paced. It continuously reminds you with quick cuts and sounds that this is a real world with an unconventional, game-like structure.
Following the plot and each of the characters stories can be ridiculous too, but it doesn't shy away from that. This is not a film that takes itself so seriously that it hurts. Enjoy it at its face value, a stylized action thriller experience.
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