DVD Reviews

Gamer – DVD Review

By Jeff Swindoll Jan 21, 2010, 11:10 GMT

GAMER is a high-concept action thriller set in the near future, a time when mind-control technology has taken society by storm. Humans control other humans in a mass-scale, multiplayer online game. Reclusive billionaire Ken Castle (Michael C. Hall) has created the controversial form of entertainment, "Slayers," a hugely popular game that allows millions to act out their innermost desires and fantasies - online - in front of a global audience. ...more

The latest action fest from directing duo Neveldine/Taylor is a little too high on the action and misses an opportunity on social commentary.

Welcome to the future. Voyeurism has been taken to a new level. Reclusive genius Ken Castle (Michael C. Hall) has come out to be interviewed on Gina Parker Smith’s (Kyra Sedgwick) talk show. The reason for his interview is a character called Kable is about to win a game called Slayers, which no one has won before.

Castle invented a technology called nanites that when put into a human host they copy that person’s brain with exact copies of the person’s cells. These copied cells allow complete control of the person while they’re in the gaming area. His first use of this technology was to create a game called Society.

In it people were paid to be pawns by online controllers and engage in all manner of societal interactions, perverse or otherwise. His second creation was Slayers. The poor saps being controlled are not paid but are death row inmates given a chance at freedom in the war game. They too are controlled, but if they survive for 30 matches they will win their freedom with a full pardon.

The character nearing completing this feat after surviving 27 matches is called Kable, but his real name is John Tillman (Gerard Butler). Tillman has a past with Castle and Tillman’s wife Angie (Amber Valletta) is also a virtual avatar but in Society.

Kable is controlled by teenager Simon Silverton (Logan Lerman) and a mysterious organization called Humanz (led by Ludacris) suddenly contracts him to allow Kable to be cut of his virtual tether and be released into the real world to do battle with Castle.

The comparison to Running Man is an easy one, so it’s probably going to happen several times in this review. In that movie, Arnold Schwarzenegger is put into a televised, futuristic death game run by Richard Dawson (of Family Feud fame, in a bit of ingenious casting) and was a commentary on our obsession with the boob tube.

“Reality” (I use quotes because I think there’s little that’s real about it) television has only further saturated our lives and Gamer throws in society’s current obsession with online role-playing gaming that allows the user to even further disconnect with reality or avoid real social interaction.

This disconnect from reality also makes for a harsher experience as we’ve all seen that the virtual anonymity of the internet allows shouting matches and insults to happen more easily than in face-to-face interactions.

Neveldine/Taylor are known for helming the madcap, brainless cartoon of a popcorn movie known as Crank and Gamer’s description makes it appear they could be going for a commentary film in disguise.

The problem is that they forgot to put in the commentary and biting social satire. I guess it’s in there if you’re looking for it, but they tend to focus on blowing people up with commentary becoming a second concern. Gerard Butler puts on his action hero pants and stomps through his role with ease.

The other thing you need in these types of films is a memorable villain. Running Man is a delight mainly because of Richard Dawson - who basically was playing himself and brought his game show baggage with him. His performance was such divine casting that he was one you love to hate in that film.

Michael C. Hall is an actor who I like and is fabulous in Dexter, but in Gamer he has little to work with. Castle isn’t seen enough and therefore doesn’t feel like much of a threat. Hall even puts on a chicken-fried Ted Turner drawl but it doesn’t add much.

By the time a Sammy Davis Jr. inspired dance number to show Castle’s want to be a world controlling puppet master happens, it’s too little too late. It would’ve worked much better if Castle had been fleshed out more, but that’s not the fault of Hall.

The directorial team seems more at ease with the action aspects of the film and seems to have lost an opportunity to hold a mirror to our virtual, reality show driven society.

Gamer is presented in anamorphic widescreen (1.85:1). Special features include a commentary with writer/directors Neveldine/Taylor, and actors Amber Valetta, Alison Lohman, and Terry Crews. The 26 minute “Inside the Game” is a making of, the 16 minute “First Person Shooter” details the innovative camera used to shoot the film, and you also get the 2 minute theatrical trailer and previews of other Lionsgate films.

Gamer has some familiar touches of Neveldine/Taylor but it has the feel of having been done better by the film it may most be compared too. Gamer feels distant and half-hearted. It would’ve benefited from a more memorable villain and more biting social commentary. Zoned-out reality television addicted individuals might disagree.