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Visitors Review

Anton Bitel 2012-05-25 06:17:46

combines industrial espionage with alternative reality in a satisfyingly mind-bending plot reminiscent of Philip K. Dick at his best.

2012-05-25 01:47:54

Cypher

This review is from: Cypher (DVD) "Morgan Sullivan doesn't exist." So Sullivan is told when he is hired by infotech goliath Digicorp to be a corporate spy, operating under the alias Jack Thursby. "What's he like?" Sullivan asks. "What's his personality?" Finster, Sullivan's controller, answers, "He's anything you want him to be." Sullivan is thrust into a series of assignments for Digicorp, surreptitiously recording speeches at a variety of industry conventions in off-track localities, Buffalo, Omaha, Boise. His wife is not best pleased that Morgan has undertaken a peripatetic part-time gig - he was supposed to sign on with the family firm. But Sullvan has warmed to his new personality, has developed a taste for premium scotch and Cuban cigarettes, for golf and sailing in the South Seas. "This is what I want to do." He assures Finster. "This is who I am." As Thursby, he meets the enchanting Rita Foster in a hotel bar, but awkwardly flubs his pickup attempt. He begins to suffer excruciating headaches and terrifying nightmares. His marriage has become fretful and insipid. He pitches himself into the convention circuit - his life is a weary succession of airports, flights, hotels, washrooms, and banquet facilities set up for corporate seminars. Awaking from one of his brutish nightmares, Thursby is drawn from his room to investigate distracting sounds, following them to the hotel roof where he is accosted at gunpoint by strangers. A leather-laced martinet approaches from a private helicopter. It is Rita Foster. She knows he is a Digicorp spy; she knows about the headaches and the nightmares. She gives him remedies and advice. "If Digicorp finds out you've met me, they'll kill you. Just remember who you are. You are not Jack Thursby. You are Morgan Sullivan." Now completely devoured by the intrigue, his marriage a baleful shambles, his appetite for Rita Foster whetted, his cover blown, Sullivan cannot turn back. The pills Foster has given him are effective. She contacts him again, now more guardian angel than guarded agent, and rescues him from a session of "neural programming" intended to transfrom him into a mindless automaton. He wakes from still another frightful dream into his fully fleshed alternate identity Jack Thursby, complete with a new wife, a new home, and a new assignment - to penetrate the spyworks of Digicorp's titanic rival Sunways Systems. He applies for a job at Sunways; he is unmasked. "According to your neurograph," he is informed by Sunways security chief Calloway, "...you're lying." Out of options, Sullivan agees to become a mole - to spy on Digicorp for the benefit of Sunways. "I want to talk to Rita Foster," Sullivan insists. But Foster doesn't work for Sunways. Who does she work for? Calloway discloses reluctantly, "She works for Sebastian Rooks." Sullivan explodes. "Who's Sebastian Rooks?" Thus the threads of Brian King's occluded plot entangle us. Morgan Sullivan is a human cypher, a fellow in the business of being someone else, an animated puzzle piece who has come loose from the grand design. Director Vincenzo Natali emphasizes the megapuzzle world Sullivan has entered with severe rectilinear backgrounds; every scene is an overwhelming array of right-angle geometry: squares, rectangles and equilateral triangles dominate every frame down to Sullivan's houndstooth coat and square-toed shoes. Digicorp headquarters is a shuddering Gothic cube against a desolate sky; the aerial view of Sullivan's neighborhood a bleak confinement of nestled boxes. The forceful point is made: in this checkerboard universe games will be played. "Cypher" is painted from the noir palette. High contrast illumination neatly bisects places and faces into precise halves. Shadows lurk in every corner. A gray-blue cast imbues the entire film with necrotic dread. Natural color bursts into scenes so rarely that its serves an ironic purpose - it makes reality look fake. Jeremy Northam's Sullivan wears the tentative half-smile of the man unsure of his surroundings but eager to please. His mild adenoidal voice tempers his declaratives: "Ah, Cohibas. My favorite brand." "Scotch. Single malt. On the rocks." He is treading water. At any moment, the uncertain sea might swallow him. Lucy Liu's Rita Foster is a compact action figure, by turns sensual and phlegmatic, solicitious and forceful, endearing and threatening. She knows the game: is she a player or a pawn? Her eyes are as dangerous and inviting as a pair of chocolate mud pies. Her entrance is the first respite from the crushing angularity of Sullivan's enigmatic world, a soft silhouette of graceful curves framed by an ice machine in a hotel hallway. No one does benevolent menace like Nigel Bennett. His Finster is a villain you hate to hate. There is no such comforting ambiguity in David Hewlett's sinister wall-eyed Vaultkeeper Virgil Dunn, Sunways Systems molebuster. The cavernous subterranean Vault is Vincenzo Natali's homage to "Forbidden Planet", as his neural programming scene is a respectful nod to "A Clockwork Orange." Timothy Webber is a flawless Calloway and Kari Matchett is silvery cool as faux spouse Diane Thursby. Even with its stunning visual impact, its well-cast actors, and its mind-teasing plot, "Cypher" would be motionless in the absence of its arresting soundtrack. Michael Andrews sequences his simple eight-note minor mode piano theme into a half-dozen compelling variations that establish mood and intensify pace. Music and sound effects blend indistinguishably. The "Cypher" theme is the rail along which the film chugs, races or idles. In its complete statement over the closing credits, it is a satisfying three-section suite that induces emotional closure. A sci-fi thriller need not pretend to profundity; its style may trump substance without disservice to integrity. "Cypher" is an aural and visual masterpiece, a smartly executed confection whose sounds and sights are their own reward.

gazebo 2012-05-17 16:28:24

Nifty movie!

This movie is about this wimpy guy who decides to become a spy for aglamorous high tech company named Digicorp. This wimpy guy, Morgan(Jeremy Northam) is unhappy with his miserable suburban life and hisdemanding wife so he decides to become a spy. He is suppose to go toconventions from other high tech companies and find out all thecompanies' plans. Instead, Morgan finds himself attracted to abeautiful woman (played by Lucy Liu) and pretty much beingdouble-crossed by these two companies that force him to become a doubleagent. How will Morgan get himself out of this? Can he trust thebeautiful but mysterious Rita Foster (played by Lucy Liu)? And moreimportantly, can Morgan make it out alive? Wow! What a nifty movie! Iwas completely sucked in after 15 minutes of watching this movie. It isvery suspenseful and you can feel Morgan's fear and confusion as he isdoing his best to stay alive. The scene where they put this horriblecontraption on Morgan's head to brainwash him is brilliantly creepy andfrightening. Morgan slowly goes through a personality transformationthat is not so readily apparent until you think about it after the filmis finished. From a wimpy guy with bad hair and glasses, he turns intoa man actively fighting for his life.The ending, wow, the ending is incredible! The twist is so much fun! Itleft me gasping and cheering like crazy! Good performances from allaround, especially from Jeremy Natham, Lucy Liu and Nigel Bennett.I highly recommend this film!

2012-05-17 12:39:07

LOVED IT---a killer movie you've never heard about

I hate slow moving films, however, this movie has to move slow or you would be completely lost.Brilliantly put together and acted, a great treat, nothing what i expectedSometimes you see a film and just think "WOW", now that is clever, or VERY COOL, this is one of them. Few special effects but the ones they do have are amazingIf you have a widewcreen tv, the looks of this movie are quite impressive alsoGET IT ENJOY!!!

Janne§ 2012-05-07 13:44:48

An undiscovered little gem

What is George Orwell had written the plot of "Fight Club"? What if PhilipK. Dick wrote a script for a spy thriller? The answer is here and it'scalled "Cypher"Here's another future cult hit from one today's most underestimated youngdirectors, Vincenzo Natali. In his debut, "Cube", Natali made exemplary useof limited resources. For "Cypher", the production values are deservedlyhigher and Natali has more room to move. Luckily, Natali keeps hisself-control and doesn't get carried away with the big guns and specialeffects just because he can. "Cypher" has the same claustrophobic, tense anddystopic atmosphere as "Cube". Jeremy Northam's role as a miserable corporate rat trying to break out ofthe rat race is memorable. Lucy Liu, on the other hand, falls somewhat shortof her role and ends up doing a "femme fatale" by numbers. The plot,especially during the first half, is nightmarishly funny and especially thecorporate convention scenes were hilarious. Later on, the plot stumbles a few times but luckily it always manages to getback on track. The most disappointing thing is the final outcome, which issupposed to come as a surprise but you can see coming a mile away.All in all, "Cypher" is an understated, intelligent scifi film of the kindthat we get to see much too little of. I look forward to seeing new films byVincenzo Natali.

Jeremy Heilman 2012-05-07 01:39:29

I liked it during the scenes when something "cool" was being revealed on screen, but the moment that "cool" ended, my interest waned.

Abdelaziz El Harchi 2012-05-07 08:15:16

Woooooooooooow

I've seen this movie at theater when it first came out some years agoand really liked it a lot. But i still wanted to see it again this yearto check if it is still good compared to movies coming out now, and iwan tell it's one the best movies i've ever seen in my life!!!!!!!!!!!!! What you need to know is that you don't have to miss any minute of thismovie, if you don't completely follow the action you will get lost andyou will not understand the end. The end is what makes this movie so good, you can't expect it.Congratulations to the Producer !

Danny_G13 2012-05-06 16:19:05

Terrific sci-fi thriller

When The Matrix appeared in 1999 and questioned existence and identity, itwas expected that a lot of movies would use it as inspiration. That didn'treally happen, surprisingly, and it took till 2002 for a movie of similartheme to appear. But to say Cypher is a clone would be to itsdiscredit.The story is of a Morgan Sullivan, who applies for a job with a high-flyingtechno-company called Digicorp. His job is to be a spy and gain informationabout a rival company, while under an assumed and falseidentity.His home-life is perfectly normal but he has to lie to his wife about whathe's actually doing.However, things start to take conspirital turns and before he knows what'sgoing on, he starts to question who he actually is. This is not helped by astrange woman who turns up...Twists and turns at every direction keep you absolutely fascinated, and atno point does anything ever seem contrived or unbelievable.It's an enthralling journey through a not-too-distant future, and with goodacting all round will keep you on the edge of your seat.Highly recommended.

dirtychild 2012-05-05 15:43:18

Interesting sci-fi thriller

Cypher tells the story of a man who is recruited by a hi-tech companyas a industrial spy, has his past history erased by the company andsoon becomes paranoid with increasing numerous encounters with amysterious woman called Rita Foster.Cypher is very much in the whole Matrix "who am I, who is in control"style thriller where the audience and the antagonist is in the dark asto what is happening.The characters are well cast with Jeremy Northman playing a veryunassuming mild man who slowly becomes a rather suave "spy" and LucyLiu playing the mysterious, cold Rita. The shocks can be quite shocking(see the Conference scene) and you pretty much keep guessing until thevery end.Although a short film (about 90 or so minutes) - I do feel like it sortof outstays its welcome by about 10 minutes or so. Perhaps if it hadbeen a bit sharper with editing - it would have been a top-notch movie.That said - this movie is still recommended if you like the wholemind-f### science fiction genre.

2012-05-04 23:30:56

"trust is not an option"

Stunning, imaginative visuals highlight this sci-fi thriller, an intricate story of multi-layered brainwashing that is actually better on the second and third viewing, because of its maze of plot twists that one can get lost in, and knowing the ending doesn't lessen the impact of the drama.The brainwashing scenes are brilliant, where a group attends lectures on subjects like "processed cheese" and "shaving cream distribution," and in paranoid moments makes me wonder what might be really happening to our brains while watching the average news/entertainment + advertising fare on our televisions.These scenes are a little like the 1962 "The Manchurian Candidate," only using futuristic technology.Jeremy Northam is terrific as "Morgan Sullivan," whose reality gets distorted and personality split into several identities. His confusion and fear are believable, and he handles the few action sequences with aplomb. Lucy Liu is strong and beautiful as the mysterious Rita, whose coded telephone number is Job 13:17, "Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears." Vincenzo Natali directed this award winning 2002 film with stylish flair, a sleek sophistication, and with excellent pacing and some heart-thumping tension. The cinematography by Derek Rogers is marvelous, with a rather stark look, and the score is atmospheric and lovely, by Michael Andrews. Intriguing, well acted, and with fascinating imagery, this is more of a mental adventure than the typical "blow 'em up" action film, and deserves being seen more than once for full appreciation. No graphic violence, no nudity, and only the occasional four-letter word make this film suitable for a large audience.Total running time is 95 minutes.

Ed Gonzalez 2012-05-04 20:26:18

Natali can't be bothered to fashion an actual human story around the perpetually buzzing toys and non-stop backstabbing and double-crossing.

2012-05-04 02:29:17

Mind numbingly boring

OK, I don't know how I am supposed to fill up one thousand words to tryand describe this useless piece of drivel. With so many twists andturns it actually tries to be a clever thriller, with everyone guessingwhat is actually going to pan out in the end. Instead it is a comicalfarce like a dog chasing its own tail. I think they started out withgood intentions and then as the plot played out (and the amount of gearthat was put up the directors nose started to get larger), the storywas lost and the audience was left guessing wtf is going on. The moviewas reminiscent of "Naked Lunch" in which time was altered and the plotwas sparse, leaving the viewer to make the assumption that if they wereonly on the same drugs as the producer it would all make sense. Bottomline: download the torrent and save the hire $$$ :)

Dylan Cross 2012-05-02 09:13:24

Definitely a brilliant tale of classic "spy vs. spy"

"Cypher" is a cleverly conceived story about industrial espionage setin America in the not too distant future. While thematically notcomplex, this film does offer many different perspectives aboutpersonal loyalty, ruthlessness, and corporate conspiracy. To a certainextent this film also attempts to represent modern corporate groups andcompanies as being indifferent to the risks their contract employeestake on their behalf.The film starts off with a somewhat mediocre salary man, MorganSullivan (Jeremy Northam), who applies to the Digicorp group to work asan undercover operative. After an initial briefing with Digicorp'sSecurity Chief, Sullivan is then given a new identity (Jack Thursby)and sent to a business conference with the task of recording thespeeches given by various spokesmen concerning the marketing strategiesof each of their respective companies. Upon successfully completing hisfirst assignment, Sullivan/Thursby is sent on further missions toobtain the same type of information previously gathered. However, onone of his "business trips" he inadvertently runs into a woman namedRita Foster, (Liu) whom he had met on his previous assignment, and fromthere things go extremely topsy-turvy. The implications of a diabolicalconspiracy involving Digicorp's espionage program begin to emerge andSullivan is forced to go deep cover at one of Digicorp's maincompetitors, thus becoming a double agent involved in an intenserivalry between the two companies.((SPOILERS END HERE))What I liked most about this film was the efficient use of lighting andshadows in a lot of the scenes. Vivid lighting was used in mainlydomestic/household settings, while a lot of shadows and dark coloringwere used for settings involving deception and cover-up. I was alsovery impressed with Jeremy Northam. Not too often have I seen him inthe lead role, and the fact that he plays a disenchanted married manstraight out of Wisconsin was brilliant. Personally, I think he's oneof the many under used actors in the industry who hasn't been givenmore challenging roles. Lucy Liu was also incredible in her part andgave the movie its real cloak-and-dagger tone. Additionally, the restof the supporting cast did a superb job, however, my only complaint wasthat some characters could have been explored more to make the plot andclosure a little more complicated. For example, I would have loved tosee what would have happened if Jack Thursby had developed a moreintimate relationship with his second "wife." Overall, this is acleverly developed cloak-and-dagger story that keeps you guessing tothe very end about personal and professional loyalties and whetheranyone in the entire film can be trusted. With a smart and stylishsoundtrack and great camera work, this film provides a scary look athow corporations might operate in the near future. I'm surprised that Ihad never watched this "hidden gem" before. This is a brilliant,not-too-overly complicated spy thriller, and therefore I'm giving it a9 out of 10.

Christopher Smith 2012-05-02 00:04:18

High style and noirish overtones about mind control and brainwashing in corporate America. Nothing new there, so nothing new here.

paul2001sw-1 2012-04-30 00:44:44

The man who turned into himself

In a sense, there's only one, universal conspiracy thriller; and thereare echoes, variously, of 'The Parallax View', 'The Matrix' and 'FightClub' Vincente Natali's film 'Cypher'. But 'Cypher' plays cleverly withthe stock ingredients, and raises some interesting questions aboutindividual identity. The whole film, however, is highly stylised, withtricksy cinematography and deliberately spooky dialogue; although thelatter is actually explained, eventually, by the plot, it's hard toreally care about the characters, or to truly believe in the worldbeing shown. The ending is neat but devoid of social context; the moviehas style, but it's shallower than it seems.

clareangelus 2012-04-29 06:02:44

A new spy for a new century

Cypher (also released as Company Man)An engrossing and stylish psychological thriller which has unjustly beenrelegated to the art house cinema (at least in the UK) Cypher is probablythe first true spy flick to be made in the last ten years. It has acinematic authenticity which is all too often missing from the mainstreamthese days.Set in a somewhen somewhere that will be familiar to Heinlein readers thefeints within feints of industrial espionage are explored with absorbingandsubtle intensity. It does not play with suspense but the viewer is drawninalmost against their will as much as the main character is unwittingly isdrawn into the outrageously intricate plotting of two warringcorporations.The film is beautifully shot. Anyone who has seen Pi will appreciate thefebrile sequences of impending insanity (and recognize a few choicegraphics) but overall there is more of a Mothman Prophesies (another underrated film) feel which is moody and often lyrical. Colour, focus, angle,andtempo are used to great effect to control our own responses in congruitywith the situation.Jeremy Northam pulls off a compelling performance and is amply aided by anable supporting cast. Canadians will see a few familiar faces, mostnotablyNigel Bennet, and even Lucy Liu is more than bearable.Smartly written and original enough not to fall within the conventional'spythriller' genre it does not ask any big questions about the nature ofbeingor what is the self. It is simply a good and interesting story with anintriguing central character. The real success of Cypher is SebastianRooks.I am not a big advocate of sequels but I do hope we get to meet him againsometime.It draws on several influences, not the least of which seem to beHeinlein,Pi, Mothman, and there are broad touches of The Prisoner, but it does comeoff as derivative. It creates more of a deja vu feeling which may or maynotbe intentional but is never the less effective.Admittedly it is not for the easily baffled or the attentionallychallengedand the fact that only one gun shot is fired in the whole thing hasprobablycontributed to its unfortunately limited release. But if you pay even amodicum of attention you will be well rewarded with a good old fashionedtwist or two.It is unfortunate that we so seldom see films which incorporate the entiregamut of the medium's potential to be evocative, entertaining, and to spinagood yarn (or in this case web) in a way which no other medium canduplicate.This aint for James Bond fans. Its difficult plot, moodiness, and artisticvalues will probably leave the average 15-30 year old movie goer a bitcoldand confused. It is likely to rate with in the 10 - 20 pairs of *pantswhichdesignate a 'pile'For film lovers this rates a mere 2 pairs of pants.The deficit mostlybeingfor the very very end few scenes which I wont reveal but found a bitpandering at the point of too little too late. I think I would have ratherhave been kept guessing than been allowed to finally catch up.Those who love the medium will find this a rich experience and aninteresting and elegant reinvention of a genre that has become all tootiredand cliché.*the clareangelus pants scale is based on how bad a movie ISN'T. The thefewer pants you get the better it is!

Uinat 2012-04-27 05:04:08

Plain Old Fun

Once upon a time there was a new star on the horizon named Hollywood. Andinits younger days it gave birth to a new way of making movies. Those werethedays of movies made for the sake of art and to start viewer's imagination.Unfortunately, people from Hollywood forgot their roots and started makingmovies for the sake of money. Money is the only thing that makesHollywood-go-round still functional. No more big movies with a message(another than patriotic), no more movies made just for fun (but clevernevertheless). Just big budget Action, Sci-Fi, War ludicrously spectaclesthat are trying to squeeze another penny out of viewers pocket. Almostnobody goes to the theatre to see a movie anymore. All viewers want to seenow are its stars. All that Hollywood wants is a famous name on the titlesequence. More famous names, more money. So, what happens to a movie thathas no stars, was made by an unknown director and saw theatre lights onlyfor a brief moment? Nothing. It goes straight to video, hoping someonewillrent it. This is the case with `Cypher'. I don't know if the writer of`Cypher' ever read Phillip K. Dick but they've got a lot in common. Thisisn't some big budget Sci-Fi flick, but shy and smart movie. It may bepredictable but in such a lovable way that you'll never notice that. Itdoesn't have anything new to say. But what he has to say it says it in anappealing manner. It will suck you into its universe of hi-techbrainwashing, big corporations and a bit quirky characters. `Cypher' isn'ttrying to be smart or sneaky, just plain fun. It reminds me of Hitchcock'smovies (39 Steps, North By Northwest, To Catch A Thief etc.), where youwould have something that characters were looking for and trying toachievebut had no real basics to begin with. This movie is showing us for whatpurpose films (not all but great deal of 'em) should be made. I won'twriteabout the plot, for it is needless after so many reviews. My advice is torent this movie. You won't regret it, I promise.

John 2012-04-26 13:42:13

White to black, innocence gives way to darkness.

Starring Jeremey Northam and Lucy Liu. The first 20 minutes of this movieare nailbiting, but it quickly becomes too predictable for its own good.Good concept, but not a good film. It's filmed nicely though, andNorham'sperformance is fantastic - mild-mannered/shy/on the cusp of a nervousbreakdown, he gradually gets darker (as does the film) as the movieprogresses.

David Nusair 2012-04-25 11:16:10

...confounding...

suttercane 2012-04-25 02:14:46

original, exciting, stylish

When I saw this it was called CYPHER. I'm not going to give away anythingofthe plot, because it's much better if you watch it without knowinganythingabout it. All I'm going to tell you is that it's a very tensesci-fi/thriller that keeps you guessing to the very end. It's really veryoriginal and exciting. Jeremy Northham is great in the leading role, LucyLui is good as usual, as is the rest of cast (especially David Hewlitt inasmall but creepy role). This is Natali's second feature film, after CUBE,and it's great too see what he's capable of with a larger budget. I expectgreat things to come. I have no idea when it's going to be released, butseeit when it does come out.