By Fred Topel | Image property of Warner Independent.
A Scanner Darkly- Keanu Reeves
Keanu Reeves is no stranger to science fiction. Even before The Matrix gave voice to the sort of philosophical ideas that fascinate the actor, he explored time travel in Bill and Ted and mind implants in Johnny Mnemonic. In A Scanner Darkly, he deals with concepts of government surveillance, multiple identities and hallucinogenic paranoia, none of which phased him.
Scanner Darkly Interview- Keanu Reeves
“I was really attracted to the material,” Reeves said. “I think it’s got a lot to offer to the viewer about cautionary commentary to the world that we live in and that was the grand inspiration. As a character, it’s very interesting to play someone who wants to change their life and have him change it.”
Reeves had been a fan of Philip K. Dick’s writing, so it may have seemed like all his previous sci-fi efforts were leading up to this film adaptation. “He tells great stories. I think I relate to the situations that I find his characters in. I love his writing. He’s wickedly funny, he’s got brutal irony. I like the context of his stories of not of the little guy but people in situations that all of a sudden are not what they seem. His stories tell about fights of the individual against forces beyond their control and then being manipulated by them. He tells really good romantic stories. He writes really cool woman. There’s a kind of flesh and blood. People are angry, people are needy, people are greedy, people are scared and I find, I relate to the worlds that he writes.”
With hits like Total Recall, Minority Report and Paycheck as well as the cult classic Blade Runner attributed to Dick’s work, A Scanner Darkly may be the most faithful adaptation yet. “It’s funny because even when they’re the best screen adaptations they’re not really not adaptations. They’re almost more inspired by because they’re never really adapted works. I would really say this is the first really true adaptation of a Philip K. Dick work.”
As for all the dual roles he’s played on film, Reeves simply said, “I think it’s interesting. I liked them.”
A Scanner Darkly opened to theatres this weekend.
For the trailers, movie stills, clips, posters, early reviews and synopsis, go to A
Scanner Darkly Movie Page.
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