A Scanner Darkly (2006)

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

There's a more than satisfactory amount of boom-boom in the movie's trim running time.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

According to a 1975 interview in Rolling Stone anything Philip K. Dick published before 1970 he wrote while on amphetamines. He was a drug user for much of his life but stated that "A Scanner Darkly" (1977) was the first complete novel he had written without speed. He cited this novel as his best work, feeling that he "had finally written a true masterpiece after 25 years of writing". A Scanner Darkly is based on his personal drug experiences, which possesses paranoia, increasing confusion, hallucinations and psychosis throughout. The film was first shot in live-action and then the live footage was animated over (a process known as rotoscoping).

wow! what a work! i still don't know the genre , maybe it is animation/live action or something i don't know. what i do know is this -"THIS IS EXTRAORDINARY." the story is pure but the highlight is the performance of the cast , they are splendid , this doesn't feel like a movie , it is real . SUPERPS it is hilarious a lot of times too!

A Scanner Darkly (2006): Dir: Richard Linklater / Cast: Keanu Reeves, Robert Downey Jr., Woody Harrelson, Winona Ryder, Rory Cochrane: Intriguing futuristic film from the writings of Phillip K. Dick. Keanu Reeves stars as an undercover cop out to expose drug dealers only to become hooked on the substance himself. Richard Linklater previously made The Waking Life, which is similar in that everything is animated upon with brilliant realism. So the actors are there but their actions are animated upon. This is a unique style of filmmaking that matches the material with its images of reality and fantasy. Reeves does well as the undercover cop slowly falling into the world of addiction and unable to maintain a sense of reality at work. It brings off the sense of fantasy associated with the drug craze and animating atop the actors utilize this effect to great extremes. Robert Downey Jr. steals scenes as the drug target fast talking his way through life. Woody Harrelson further becomes paranoid. His actions and movements allow for him to steal every scene he is in as well as add humour. Winona Ryder is also featured and is involved with Reeves who questions her involvement with drugs. Fantastic animated portrayal with strong themes regarding the lie of drugs and the false promises they present. In the end they can destroy lives, careers and ultimately futures. Score: 10 / 10

Sure, this is different, but that certainly doesn't make it good. Philip K. Dick seems like a decent guy, and quite a few of his books/novellas have been turned into movies, but this was just stupid. How am I supposed to believe in a costume that changes several times a second when Keanu Reeves eats without there being a mouth-hole? There's nothing new about a big pharma company which is secretly supplying the drugs which it seems to be against; all this movie did was add a predictable plot twist to it and a whole bunch of crazy ish. But I really liked the three main guys. Woody Harrelson, Keanu Reeves and Robert Downey Jr. were fantastic together. Winona Ryder was okay but sadly I'm pretty sure this movie doesn't pass the Bechdel test. There wasn't really much to like about this.