MindScans

16 August 2016. What is disappointing about this movie is that the performances and the editing of this hardcore sci fi storyline really let the movie down. The acting is dull and stunted while the plot unfolds is a rather puzzling and overly confusing way and not in the mysterious or thrilling way. The director attempts to really make this movie interesting by over-acting but just doesn't have the sense of film making polished authenticity.

The storyline and its commitment to convoluted virtual reality is one of the strongest. But unlike Kevin Spacey's subtle insinuating performance in K-Pax (2001), the action, adventure, sci fi thriller The Matrix (1999), Ann Hathaway's haunting performance is Passengers (2008) or Leonardo DiCaprio in Shutter Island (2010), the surrealistic fantasy reality of Jim Carrey in The Truman Show (1998), Natalie Wood's Brainstorm (1993), Gwenyth Paltrow's Sliding Door's (1998), Alyssa Milano's My Girlfriend's Boyfriend (2010), the classic Slaughter-House Five (1972), Jim Carrey's Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), John Cusack's horror 1408 (2007), Robin Wright's psychedelic Congress (2013), and Christopher Nolan's Inception (2010). I guess there's quite of few quality productions out there. But this great storyline by the writer deserved better editing, attention, and budget, and finding himself another director to work with this cast.

MindScans reminds me of some episodes of 'The Twilight Zone'…. It is a look at the implications of technology in the hands of a species that has to learn to grow into the responsibilities of the usage of the equipment.

Increasing the Twilight Zone aspect is the addition of several vignettes (or tiny films/stories) in the main film, that flesh out the ramifications of the lack of awareness we can have. This gives us several threads of stories that are woven into a compelling storyline and all culminating in a surprise ending….

That being said, the story being interesting and avant-garde… we can discuss the technical aspects of the film…. This includes the cinematography and acting…. The equipment is High Definition with wide-screen aspect ratio shot onto digital…. This gives it a very clear and distinct picture that goes over very well on the big screen. The framing is good, the lighting is excellent, the sets make sense and the background scenery of San Luis Obispo is very effectively utilized in a stunning sequence of scenes shot both outdoors and indoors. I also enjoyed seeing some of the fine home interiors in the film, even though it is considered a rural area, San Luis Obispo has some fine architecture.

The acting is good and solid, some are exceptional in the scenes they played out. Of note is D. Rosh Wright who played 'Aunt Marie', the muse and mentor of the hero of the film 'Sara Lincoln' played ably by Shanda Green

One item of note here…. The cast and crew was all local people from the San Luis Obispo area. They were trained for film by the director who had to train stage actors from local theater companies to understand the technical challenges and freedoms that film can give an actor and the story. Another worthy note is the budget of the film… but don't let that minuscule amount begin to taint your idea of this film…. In fact, that amount is going to be tied into the legend of this film because people are going to be amazed at the low cost and high quality of this film.

I do believe this film will go down in history for its low cost and high value.