Gamer
Directed by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor
Lionsgate, 2009
By Sean Kelly
It seems that the directing duo of Neveldine and Taylor are trying to make a name for themselves with over-the-top action films. After the somewhat disappointing Crank: High Voltage, they return with the less disappointing Gamer.
The story is set in a world where the top new videogame is Slayers, in which players, through mind-control technology, control real-life death-row inmates in a multi-player death match. If a con makes it through 30 rounds without getting their head blown off, then they are granted a total pardon. This is a variation of a premise found in films such as Running Man, Battle Royale, and The Condemned. The film also attempts to comment on current videogame culture (especially since one of the players portrayed in the film is morbidly obese).
The central character of the film is Kable (Gerard Butler), who is only three matches away from being granted his freedom. However, this may go against the plans of the creator of Slayers (as well as another Sims-like game called Society), Ken Castle (Michael C. Hall), who seems to have bigger plans for the mind-control technology than just entertainment for teens.
Like Crank: High Voltage, the film was full of ugly, “in-your-face” cinematography and gratuitous content. In fact, some of the stuff in the film was so bad that I actually saw people walking out of the theatre.
That said, I can’t say I was as disappointed with this film as much as I was with Crank: High Voltage. About halfway through the film, I actually found myself somewhat digging the story, which helped to salvage my experience. I also liked how some shots during the death matches were done up to look like a third-person videogame.
However, while the Slayers content was salvageable, the Society content was totally FUBAR and it seems the only reason it entered the story (other than to show gratuitous sexual content) is because Kable’s wife was part of the game. That was definitely a part of the film I could have done without.
I have to say that Michael C. Hall (of Dexter and Six Feet Under fame) was the main scene-stealer in Gamer as the film’s villain. However, those scene-stealing moments come late in the film and his early scenes were a bit cheesier, especially since he is sporting an awful Southern accent.
In summary, I guess I can say that I liked Gamer slightly better than Crank: High Voltage. However, I would be hard-pressed to consider seeing another one of Neveldine/Taylor’s films in the future. While these guys may satisfy a certain audience, everything they touch is a bit too over-the-top for my liking.
