Self/less

Genre: sci-fi, action, drama

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Matthew Goode, Natalie Martinez, Ben Kinglsey

Stars: 3 

Damien Hale (Kingsley) is dying of cancer, and like many movie billionaire tycoons he thinks his money ought to entitle him to cheat death. Similar in idea to Transcendence starring Johnny Depp, Self/less follows the story of Hale as his consciousness is transported though a mysterious (read: utterly improbable) method called shedding, into another man’s body (Mark Bitwell, played by Reynolds). The process was invented by a scientist of questionable ethics and whose motives aren’t entirely clear, unless having a crazed God complex is considered motive enough. If you can get past the laughably bad pseudo science of this film’s premise, there is some enjoyment to be had following Hale on his journey to rebirth and, ultimately, a form of enlightenment.

All appears to go well with the procedure at first. Hale wakes up in his new body and takes some time to get used to it, but once he does he starts partying in New Orleans like there’s no yesterday. He’s warned by the enigmatic Professor Albright (Goode) to take his medication to ward off what he calls ‘hallucinations’, but which are in fact memories of Mark’s former life. Contrary to information received that his new vessel has been cloned in a lab, it in fact belongs to another man who gave up his body to science for reasons of his own, something which becomes clear as Hale starts to think a little deeper about the hallucinations and begins to suspect Albright’s motives. The remainder of the narrative falls into more standard action territory, with Hale’s conscience getting to him, Mark’s memories fighting to break through, and Albright hell bent on protecting his work. There are car chases and shoot outs, betrayals, kidnapping and the inevitable showdown between Hale/Mark and Albright.

Self/less could have been a cerebral experience, a thoughtful examination of the meaning of life, identity and moral ambiguity, but it chose not to study those concepts too deeply. Or at all, really. So while I thought the premise was interesting (if requiring a great deal of suspension of disbelief), the treatment of this as a conspiracy/action film didn’t allow time for much contemplation. Having said that, I did like the way things wrapped up, and despite his actions I liked the character of Hale. Of course, Reynolds also looks great in a chesty bond. So there’s that.

Not the same brain, but the guns feel familiar

Recommended if you’re a Reynolds fan and are looking for something mindless to wile away a couple of hours. Otherwise you could skip it.

But like I said. There’s the Reynolds gun show to consider. Decisions, decisions.

Sami