Review of the movie Dark City

I have been on vacation this week, and one tradition I stick to is to try new things and break away from my routine. It doesn't matter what it is, just something different from the usual daily grind. I would like to share an awesome movie from the late Nineties, titled Dark City I happened to see, thanks to my Mom finding the DVD at a yard sale and letting me borrow it. Still in the plastic wrap, someone truly did not know what they had, and gave it way for around a dollar. Gotta love a yardsale!

http://www.shortlist.com/entertainment/films/the-30-coolest-alternative-movie-posters-ever#gallery-25

 

 

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   Dark City was released in 1998 and starred Kiefer Sutherland, Jennifer Connelly, William Hurt and Rufus Sewell. It was directed and written by Alex Proyas, who also directed The Crow. The movie was a joint production by New Line Cinema and Australian Mystery Clock production, with the majority of production shot in Australia at Fox Studios Australia. Dark City is in the Sci-Fi/Neo Noir genre. It received very minor success at the box office, but has received mostly positive critic reviews. Roger Ebert rated 4 stars and claimed it was the best movie of 1998, Rotten Tomatoes has it at 74% fresh, and IMdB 7.7 out of 10.
     Dark City starts off in a dimly lit hotel room, the main character John Murdoch(Rufus Sewell)
awakening to a grisly murder scene, suffering from amnesia with no recollection to what has occurred. Dr. Daniel Schreber(Sutherland) calls to give Murdoch the heads up that a group of men are on the way and after him, and encourages him to leave the hotel at once. As he is leaving the room, a group of strange men, pale skinned and dressed in all black, are getting off the elevator and heading his way. Murdoch finds out that he is wanted by the police and the strange men, known as The Strangers,  for a string of murder's he doesn't remember committing. He also finds out he is married to a woman named Emma(Connelly), and that something just doesn't seem right about the city that never sees daylight. The movie is about Murdoch's exploration of the city and finding the answers to all his questions.

https://stylenoir.com/film-review-dark-city/

      The visual and cinematography of Dark City is plain awesome and what makes it such a great movie. With elements of both Sci-Fi and Noir, both combine nicely to create a beautiful landscape and experience for the audience. The city itself is a mix of modern and old, with no distinct year or era, a dark, cold, and mechanical feel that is reminiscent of the silent movie Metropolis. Art Deco signage, old automobiles, and throwback clothing are all present. The atmosphere and story line are similar to the more popular Matrix movies or Inception, though Dark City did release a year before The Matrix.

     I  give this movie two thumbs up, and recommend it as a must-see if you are a fan of Sci-Fi or Neo Noir/Crime/Thriller films. The story line is complex and fairly deep, asking questions about human nature and what exactly makes us who we are. Dark City may have not captured a huge audience at the time, but I do see it as a cult movie that was well made and thought-provoking. I believe it will continue to be at home during midnight showings and art-house cinemas for a long time to come.