​FILMS

self/less

2015 review number 111:

Self/less: (Science-Fiction/Thriller): 45 out of 100: Soul/less would be a more appropriate title as the execution is rather standard which is a disappointment considering the interesting premise of people being able to transfer their mind to a younger body. The first half of the film becomes bogged down with explanations and contrivances while the second half features generic action scenes. It's science fiction without heart and soul.

 

Ben Kingsley is Damian, an elderly real estate mogul dying from cancer who undergoes a radical medical procedure that transfers his consciousness to the body of a young, healthy man (Ryan Reynolds). Problems are encountered when he is able to recall events and starts to uncover the origin of his new body. The organisation that has devised this medical breakthrough, led by Professor Albright (Matthew Goode), will stop at nothing to protect its secrets. Meanwhile the 'new' Damian meets up with his wife Madeline (Natalie Martinez) and daughter Anna (Jaynee-Lynne Kinchen) due to the visions he is experiencing, thus contributing to the confusion he now finds himself in.

 

The elderly Damian is a despicable character and Kingsley plays him with all the scorn and contempt he can muster. It's easy to see through Kingsley's portrayal why Damian is heartless. We then discover that he has a daughter he has neglected and Kingsley's acting skill and expertise enables him to effortlessly convey the sadness he feels for their estranged relationship. When Kingsley departs the film, it seems that no traces of his character are found in Reynolds' Damian. It's bewildering how the screenwriters, David and Alex Pastor, let this slip through. Reynolds plays his character with a furrowed brow and becomes an action hero of sorts. The action scenes are rather generic and there's little in the way of tension and suspense. There are several interesting scenes though that will jolt you out of your slumber, these consist of the science of body/mind transferral. These scenes actually add some spark to the proceedings.

 

There's some excessive editing that takes place during the action scenes. Even a few of the dramatic scenes resort to quick cuts. That makes it difficult to focus. It is directed by Tarsem Singh who started his career in music videos so this probably explains why there's so many cuts.

 

The best feature of this movie might just be the premise itself. It would have been smarter to explore the science of transferring a mind to a body rather than focus on a generic action/thriller that rarely excites. With so many remakes and reboots these days, it would be interesting to see this being remade by a more competent screenwriting/directing team.

 

Starring Ryan Reynolds, Matthew Goode and Ben Kingsley

(117 minutes)

Parental advice: Coarse language, violence and adult themes

Additional scene during or after credits: No

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3agaVwt0tb8 (Movie trailer)

(Reviewed on Sunday 2nd August, 2015)

 

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