Total Recall (2012)

2012’s “Total Recall”, directed by Len Wiseman.

Starring Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsdale, Jessica Biel, Brian Cranston, Bill Nighy, Bokeem Woodbine, and John Cho.

Published in 1966, Science Fiction author Philip K. Dick wrote another one of his signature mind benders, “We can Remember it for You Wholesale”, about the boundary-less differences between reality and subjective experiences, in the setting of aliens on Earth and Mars. In 1992, Paul Verhoeven took the basic idea, cast Arnold Schwarzenegger as a cartoonish protagonist, and added slapstick violence, alien taxi cab drivers, mutant prophets, and three breasted women. Here, Wiseman again tweaks the formula, this time setting the futurist action exclusively on earth. Because of a disaster, there are only 2 nations remaining, The United Federation of Britain and The Colony (Australia), and the 2 are commuted back and forth to by the working classes. Cranston plays the film’s antagonist, a dictator (as per Ronny Cox in the original) who this time wishes to unleash an army of robots to take over the world. However, Farrell, a worker at a robotics factory, has been having strange dreams which make him question his purpose in life, and a trip to a memory implant service, Rekall, kick starts the plot into motion. Very quickly, Farrell has to deal with Cranston’s robots and storm troopers who can’t shoot straight, a mysterious wife (Beckinsdale, almost like a Terminator here), who wants to murder him, and figure out the intentions of a mysterious freedom fighter, Jessica Biel. Together they run, fly, and fight as they search to locate the resistance, headed by Bill Nighy.

“TR”’s thrilling opening shot owes more to 2010’s “Inception” than the original, and as the movie goes on, it seems to be more of a combination of tribute to 1982’s “Blade Runner”, and 2004’s “I, Robot”. That’s not an accident, as the movie suffers from a lack of identity that no replicant could ever retire from. The movie shoehorns in references to the original in the names of characters, call backs to severed limbs in elevator shafts, and the standard, “no thanks I’m just not a fan of prostitutes with three breasts” trope, and yet is neither a celebration of the original nor a bold step forwards. Despite offering a thrill ride that looks fantastic (amazing cinematography and lighting), it functions in a PG-13 dead zone (complete with bountiful lens flare). Furthering the sense of blankness, Farrell, as the lead here, doesn’t seem to emote very much either way, as he nondescriptly transitions from 1 scene to the next (bringing up questions as to if Schwarzenneger’s cartoon character having an identity crisis was a more nuanced performance). It would also help if Farrell and Biel shared any chemistry whatsoever, but alas, she brings none of the fire that Beckingsdale ironically has too much of (being married to the director may have been a factor). Not that it’s their fault, as none of the characters seem to have much motivation other than advancing the recycled plot through the many forgettable chase scenes. And that is a movie’s biggest sin: creating something that later on you will struggle to recall.

2.5/5

Trailer: Click Here.