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A Scanner Darkly Trailer

Philip K. Dick adaptations have been very hit and miss in recent years. The latest is from auteur Richard Linklater, and bears a striking stylistic resemblance to Waking Life (which, I’m embarrassed to say, I haven’t seen).

A Scanner Darkly stars Keanu Reeves (high lord of sci-fi conspiracies and hidden worlds), Woody Harrelson and, oddly, Winona Ryder (lock the costume trailer!). Frankly, the trailer is a bit obscure. I don’t know the novel, but it’s all mood, and atmosphere and gives you little sense of the story. This is actually a teaser trailer, so I guess it’s working, in that my interest is piqued.

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Published by dbarefoot

Darren Barefoot is an author, speaker and digital strategist. He’s the co-founder of Capulet Communications, and co-author of “Friends With Benefits: A Social Media Marketing Handbook”.

7 comments

  1. I hope Keanu does better with Phillip Dick than he did with William Gibson (“Johnny Mnemonic”).

    Speaking of which, Reeves has now played the Anti-Christ, a walking Jesus-metaphor, AND Siddhartha. I’m thinking that’s some kind of record. Perhaps a role as Zoroaster is forthcoming.

  2. Rider actually makes sense. Dick’s novel is very counterculture, and after all, Rider grew up on a commune.

    I read “A Scanner Darkly” a few years ago. The “scanner” is the suit Reeves’ character wears to scramble his identity to all who see him. He uses this in his work as an undercover narcotics agent who has to regularly snitch on his friends. (Strange, huh? But that’s Phillip K. Dick.)

    I was wondering how the weird tones of this novel could be done well in movie format (especially Hollywood movie format) but Linklater’s animation may be able to pull it off …

  3. “Pider actually makes sense. Dick’s novel is very counterculture, and after all, Rider grew up on a commune.”

    And besides, she’s cute.

  4. you have to see Waking Life …it has really unique (almost Flash-like) animation layered over real characters.
    Its one big philosophical conversation during a dream. Really great, but it may trance you into falling asleep!

  7. Let us just pray that the Gods of Hollywood manage to avert another ‘paycheck’ disaster.

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