 Director's Cut Tagline: Darkness Falls Soon For the first time in High-definition, the critically-acclaimed triumph from visionary director Alex Proyas (I, Robot, The Crow) is back with featuring both the theatrical and never-before-seen director's cut versions of the film in premium picture and sound with five commentary tracks that take you deeper than ever before into the world of one of sci-fi's most exciting and revered tales.. When John Murdoch (Rufus Sewell) wakes with no memory at the scene of a grisly murder, he soon finds himself hunted by the police, a woman claiming to be his wife and a mysterious group of pale men who seem to control everything and everyone in the city. Starring Rufus Sewell (The Illusionist), Kiefer Sutherland (TV's 24), Jennifer Connelly (A Beautiful Mind) and William Hurt (A History Of Violence). Storyline: John Murdoch awakens alone in a strange hotel to find that he has lost his memory and is wanted for a series of brutal and bizarre murders. While trying to piece together his past, he stumbles upon a fiendish underworld controlled by a group of beings known as The Strangers who possess the ability to put people to sleep and alter the city and its inhabitants. Now Murdoch must find a way to stop them before they take control of his mind and destroy him. Written by Anonymous Reviewer's Note: Reviewed by Dustin Somner, January 21, 2010 -- Every sci-fi generation has a gold-standard that deserves recognition for its dense layering and memorable impact on movie-going audiences. Depending on your age, that film could be 2001: A Space Odyssey, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Blade Runner, or any other visionary masterpiece that moved you in some way. In my case, that experience arrived in the form of a film I'd heard little about, but managed to garner a double-feature engagement with The Devil's Advocate at my local second-run theater. Granted this was twelve years ago, but I still remember my first viewing of Dark City like it was yesterday. Stepping out of the auditorium with a giant grin on my face, I made it my mission to recommend the film to everyone with even the slightest interest in cerebral science fiction. I know it may seem bold to place Dark City among the ranks of science fiction's elite, but I truly believe this masterpiece deserves widespread recognition for delivering one of the greatest initial viewings of all time. I typically include a synopsis at this point in the review, but Dark City will be the first case where I throw that practice out the window. As much as that might disappoint some readers, I know a discussion of the plotline would represent a great disservice to anyone who's stumbling onto the film for the first time. I can't tell you the number of situations where I've accidentally read a spoiler, or unavoidably overheard a conversation among co-workers regarding the big reveal at the end of some film I happened to missed during opening weekend. Since I'm not going to be that guy, I'll focus this review more on the themes that make Dark City such a pleasure to watch time and time again.If I had to pick one element in the film that makes the first viewing memorable, it would be the way director Alex Proyas structures the story. From the moment John Murdock (Rufus Sewell) awakens to find himself lying naked in the bathtub of a dead prostitute's apartment, we embark on a journey of discovery that introduces new clues around every corner. On the run from mysterious "Strangers", Murdoch is a clean slate with no knowledge of his surroundings and fractured memories of his past. Little things such as a postcard of "Shell Beach" or a picture-book with no pictures become keys to unlocking the puzzle of his existence. Within this atmosphere, there's a foreboding presence of dread as we gradually learn about the relationship between humanity and the mysterious underground society of pale-skinned men.Despite my appreciation for the film, critics almost universally panned Dark City as a stylistic tour-de-force that lacked substance. I'm not sure what film they were watching, but that assessment couldn't be further from the truth. I'll agree with the opinion that Alex Proyas drenched Dark City in as much atmosphere as his directorial debut (The Crow), but the layered dimensions of his storytelling are the driving force behind the visuals. You never get the feeling he's simply presenting environments or special effects in an effort to "wow" the audience, since every nuance of the film-noir setting plays a role in the revelations to come. Descend below the surface and you'll soon discover a multitude of themes that truly make you think. The villains of the film are humanized to an extent most viewers won't grasp on their initial viewing and John shows fleeting moments of childish glee as he wields new-found powers. In this manner, the lines between our good-guy and his enemy are obscured on repeat viewings, though the overall message remains the same.Prior to The Knowing, Alex Proyas had an unblemished record of attracting ideal candidates for the lead role in his films. Beginning with the tragic breakout performance of Brandon Lee in The Crow, and continuing with Rufus Sewell in Dark City, these films require the emotional presence to draw the audience into their journey of suffering and awakening. I couldn't imagine anyone better than Rufus Sewell in the part of a wide-eyed John Murdock, who accepts the difficult task of running around like a fish out of water through most of the film. Equally impressive is the beautiful Jennifer Connelly as John's wife Emma, and a reality-grounding performance from John Hurt as Inspector Bumstead. Out of all the performances in the film, Richard O'Brien (Rocky Horror Picture Show) deserves the most credit for his role as the villainous Mr. Hand. Considering the talent he's surrounded by, O'Brien consistently overshadows the ensemble cast with his snake-like dialog and terrifying facial expressions. The only performance I wouldn't classify as exceptional is Keifer Sutherland's portrayal of Dr. Schreber, a sniveling coward with a highly important connection to humanity's plight. Perhaps Sutherland wasn't the right choice for the part, or he simply tried too hard, but this isn't the best we've seen of him during his lengthy career as an actor.Of note, this Blu-ray edition presents the director's cut of the film, which adds approximately eleven minutes to the theatrical edition (also included on the disc). Most of the changes are subtle character-building extensions, which help to even out the pacing of the film. Jennifer Connelly fans will be pleased to know her own voice was reinserted for the full-length nightclub songs, which feature more of the beautiful actress in her slinky cocktail dress. If you'd like to know exactly what special effects and scenes have changed, there's an optional text-based feature that flashes explanations of the altered footage throughout the film. Like Blade Runner before it, Dark City is a film that many dismissed during the original theatrical run, but earned tremendous respect in the years to follow. The science fiction community needed a breakout production to renew the faith of genre fans everywhere, and that's exactly what Alex Proyas set out to do. If you haven't seen Dark City, there's never been a better time than the present, especially in light of the superior director's cut offering on this release. For all fans of mind-bending sci-fi entertainment, Dark City earns my highest recommendation. Cast Notes: Rufus Sewell (John Murdoch), Kiefer Sutherland (Dr. Daniel Paul Schreber), Jennifer Connelly (Emma Murdoch/Anna), Richard O'Brien [I] (Mr. Hand), Ian Richardson (Mr. Book), William Hurt (Inspector Frank Bumstead), Colin Friels (Eddie Walenski), Mitchell Butel (Husselbeck), Frank Gallacher (Stromboli), Bruce Spence (Mr. Wall), Melissa George (May), John Bluthal (Karl Harris), Ritchie Singer (Hotel Manager/Vendor), Justin Monjo (Taxi Driver), Nicholas Bell (Mr. Rain). IMDb Rating (02/11/17): 7.7/10 from 161,301 users
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