Writer: Jonathan Sullivan
Starring: Bruce Willis, Radha Mitchell, Ving Rhames
Writer(s): Michael Ferris/John D. Brancado
Director: Jonathan Mostow
Writer(s): Michael Ferris/John D. Brancado
Director: Jonathan Mostow
The idea of surrogacy, or the use of Surrogates (better get used to that word, you will hear it A LOT in this movie), is that a person can create a perfect image of themselves (or even someone else) in a robot and control them from the comforts of their own home. You live your lives through them: you see and feel everything they do, except for pain, and you cannot be killed by things like car crashes or fire (or at least so you would think). Think of the game Second Life, but transplanted into the real world...and less furries.
With the rise of Surrogates, crime and racism has climbed down to almost nothing (I'll get to that in a moment) and people are now living the lives of their dreams. However, outside of this there is a movement of humanity headed by a man known only as The Prophet (Ving Rhames, who is sporting his best Caveman's Valentine Halloween costume). They aim to end surrogacy and bring back humanity. These humans live off the grid in little reservations in every state, farming and pretty much living like the Amish, only more poor.
Bruce Willis plays Greer, an FBI detective who along with his partner Peters (Radha Mitchell), is investigating the first homicide in over 7 years. It appears that a weapon has been created that can not only fry the surrogate, but bypass the fail safes and actually kill the controller as well. The victim is the son of Canter (James Cromwell), the original inventor of the surrogacy technology, who has been living in secrecy since he was forced out of his own company...and you can guess where that leads to. Greer has his own problems as well: after the death of his son, his wife Maggie (Rosamund Pike) has completely lost herself in her new life as a surrogate, refusing to come out as a coping mechanism. All he wants is to really embrace his wife, but she will not.
The film itself is fun and interesting, but nothing that will break the bank or cause you to buy the DVD. Although it presents us with an interesting world, it's really just another run of the mill action thriller. However, it's a well-done action thriller, so if you like these kinds of films, you'll have fun with it.
Although it feels only 90 minutes long, they pack a lot into it and at times, it feels like it is dragging. Bruce Willis does a good job as the lead, but he's just hitting the usual Bruce Willis territory here. Ving Rhames is the best part of the film as The Prophet, spewing about revolution and sounding like a preacher, which is probably why he's named the way he is. After seeing Rhames phone it in in The Goods, it was nice to see him try again.
All in all, if the trailer interests you, see it. I can think of a hundred worse ways to waste your money and time. Just don't expect anything you'll remember until you see it pop up on TBS in three years.
With the rise of Surrogates, crime and racism has climbed down to almost nothing (I'll get to that in a moment) and people are now living the lives of their dreams. However, outside of this there is a movement of humanity headed by a man known only as The Prophet (Ving Rhames, who is sporting his best Caveman's Valentine Halloween costume). They aim to end surrogacy and bring back humanity. These humans live off the grid in little reservations in every state, farming and pretty much living like the Amish, only more poor.
Bruce Willis plays Greer, an FBI detective who along with his partner Peters (Radha Mitchell), is investigating the first homicide in over 7 years. It appears that a weapon has been created that can not only fry the surrogate, but bypass the fail safes and actually kill the controller as well. The victim is the son of Canter (James Cromwell), the original inventor of the surrogacy technology, who has been living in secrecy since he was forced out of his own company...and you can guess where that leads to. Greer has his own problems as well: after the death of his son, his wife Maggie (Rosamund Pike) has completely lost herself in her new life as a surrogate, refusing to come out as a coping mechanism. All he wants is to really embrace his wife, but she will not.
The film itself is fun and interesting, but nothing that will break the bank or cause you to buy the DVD. Although it presents us with an interesting world, it's really just another run of the mill action thriller. However, it's a well-done action thriller, so if you like these kinds of films, you'll have fun with it.
Although it feels only 90 minutes long, they pack a lot into it and at times, it feels like it is dragging. Bruce Willis does a good job as the lead, but he's just hitting the usual Bruce Willis territory here. Ving Rhames is the best part of the film as The Prophet, spewing about revolution and sounding like a preacher, which is probably why he's named the way he is. After seeing Rhames phone it in in The Goods, it was nice to see him try again.
All in all, if the trailer interests you, see it. I can think of a hundred worse ways to waste your money and time. Just don't expect anything you'll remember until you see it pop up on TBS in three years.