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Movie Review: Surrogates ( *** )

AHN — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 13:00:59 +0000

The science fiction thriller, Surrogates, is He, Robot to I, Robot, Majority Report to Minority Report, Robopop to Robocop.

So, yes, it reminds you of lots of other movies. But it also establishes itself as a thoughtful and intriguing escapist entertainment.

The title refers to humanoid remote control vehicles that act as proxies for futuristic humans, who routinely employ them to avoid having to be in the presence of, or interact with, other humans.

Based on a graphic novel, Surrogates is set in the near future in a world in which humans live their lives remotely, staying in isolation and communicating only through their mind-controlled “surries,” surrogate robots, who, as physically perfect mechanical representations of themselves, are not only more fit but slightly if not largely more presentable-looking versions of them and who assume their life roles. Of course, customers also have the option of creating surrogates who look nothing like them, which lots of folks do.

It’s been a wildly successful and profitable experiment, and it’s led to a contemporary society that is relatively free of crime, fear, discrimination, disease, and pain. People can now experience life vicariously in the comfort and safety of their own homes.

Does anyone object? Sure, what are referred to as “dreads” or “meatbags,” humans who reject the surrogate system and live instead on their own reservation, presided over by the fanatical Prophet, played by Ving Rhames.

But they’re in the decided minority. To everyone else this is a utopia.

Until now, that is, because everything’s about to change.

Bruce Willis stars as Harvey Greer, a severely withdrawn FBI agent who is forced to leave his home for the first time in years. It’s a home he shares with his troubled and estranged wife, played by Rosamund Pike, who remains emotionally devastated by the loss of their young son several years ago.

Greer abandons his own surrogate while he, with the help of his partner, played by Radha Mitchell, investigates several murders — the first homicides in a very long time — including that of the college-student son of the reclusive genius, played by James Cromwell, who invented the high-tech surrogates.

What Greer discovers along the way indicates that there is a conspiracy behind the curtain of this surrogate culture, in which it’s not always easy to tell the difference between a human and his or her surrogate.

Director Jonathan Mostow (Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, U-571, Breakdown) works from a sci-fi screenplay by John Brancato and Michael Ferris that offers itself as much more of a murder mystery than an action flick. And his handling of the stunts and special effects along the way is first-rate.

The writers don’t seem terribly interested in the strong satirical possiblities suggested by the central conceit, but the narrative does already have a semi-satirical underpinning that still gets the job done. The conspiracy thrust of the plot is perhaps overfamiliar, but the themes of vanity and technological detachment register strongly and the marital relationship between Willis and Pike ends up being strongly and surprisingly affecting.

Willis gets to play what is in essence two roles, reluctant hero Greer and his twenty-years-younger, sandy-haired upgrade of a surrogate. He remains a thoroughly viable leading man.

Surrogates, adapted from a 2006 graphic novel, belongs to the trend of movies based on comic books that do not involve larger-than-life superheroes. It’s a bracing combination of wish fulfillment and social commentary about a society enamored of the importance of appearance, an aspect of the film that isn’t science, fiction, or science fiction.

As for the ending, it may be a trifle too pat, but it’s quite satisfying anyway.

Surrogates is one savvy sci-fi saga. Having seen it as your surrogate, I’m now recommending it for your in-person perusal.

Bill Wine – Celebrity News Service Movie Critic/ AHN

90 minutes

In theaters September 25, 2009

Rating: PG-13, Science fiction thriller

Rumer Willis has blasted “stick-skinny” actresses

Bang — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:00:34 +0000

Rumer Willis, the 21-year-old daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore is disgusted by “young Hollywood” because it promotes the idea you need to “see your bones through your skin” to be considered beautiful.

The budding actress told BANG Showbiz: “I think that in general, especially in the last few years in the younger generation, the idea of perfection that has developed in Hollywood is wrong. There needs to be a shift in that.

“I have two younger sisters in high school and they talk about image all the time. Girls need to have a better body image. The stars out there now, they don’t need to be stick-skinny to the point you can see their bones through your skin. It’s not a good look.

“You don’t need to be like that to be beautiful or perfect or to fit in. What you are is exactly what you should be. You can’t let other people dictate your life or tell you how to feel about yourself because then you’re not living.”

Rumer – who stars in upcoming horror film ‘Sorority Row’ – has vowed to devote her career to being a “positive” role model for “normal” girls.

She explained: “One of the most important things that I would love to do if I get to continue doing this job is to be a really positive role model for young women about their body image and about eating.

“I want to start giving girls a better body image.”

Bruce Willis says his life is much more fun since getting married

Bang — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 17:00:31 +0000

The ‘Die Hard’ star wed model Emma Heming in March and is enjoying his husbandly role.

He said: “My wife Emma really is a beautiful person. I can’t stop laughing. I can’t stop having fun.”

The 54-year-old star – who has three daughters with ex-wife Demi Moore – also revealed he would like more children but isn’t sure if it will happen.

When asked about having more kids, Bruce told US TV show ‘Access Hollywood’: “I don’t know. I don’t know. You can’t predict the future, can you? No one can tell what’s coming!”

Bruce recently revealed he hated being single after he split from Demi in 1998.

The actor struggled being alone and only found happiness again when he met Emma.

He said: “I went from ‘F**k love’ to ‘Love is truly the answer.’

“I spent the last 10 years single and, for the most part, unhappy. In a dark place. I never thought that being with someone else was the answer.

“I would say, ‘I’m alone, but I’m not lonely.’ But I was just kidding myself.

“Then I started hanging around Emma, and on a day-to-day basis my life became much happier.”

Demi Moore changing her name to Demi Kutchner

Duncan Riley — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 02:15:54 +0000

Four years after marrying toy-boy Ashton Kutcher, Demi Moore has decided that she’ll only now happily take his name as part of the bargain/

According to reports, Demi now feels “comfortable” with the name change, which might be code for “I wasn’t sure it would last, but 4 years in we might go the distance.”

Demi was born Demi Guynes, and picked up the surname Moore from her first husband Freddie Moore. During a 13 year marriage to Bruce Willis, she stuck with Moore, making the decision to change her name to Kutchner marginally more interesting.

First trailer for Bruce Willis’ latest Surrogates released

Duncan Riley — Fri, 22 May 2009 04:25:42 +0000

The first trailer for Bruce Willis’ latest movie Surrogates has been released.

According to the synopsis: “In the near future, humans live in isolation and only interact through robotic bodies that serve as surrogates. When several surrogates are murdered, a cop (Bruce Willis) investigates the crimes through his own surrogate. The investigation forces the cop to bring his human form out of isolation and unravel a conspiracy behind the crimes.”

The movie is based on a comic book series of the same name, although it should be noted that this isn’t a Marvel Super Hero type adventure, more of a somewhat dark futuristic what if, with a serious dose of tech.

Surrogates is due to be released September 25.

SURROGATES trailer in HD

Bruce Willis and Emma Heming Married

Duncan Riley — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 03:20:59 +0000

Bruce Willis and girlfriend Emma Heming married in Parrot Cay, in the Turks and Caicos Islands, Saturday.

Willis exchanged vows in a ceremony attended by his children, ex-wife Demi Moore and her husband Ashton Kutcher. Madonna is also believed to have been among the guests.

The wedding coincided with Willis’ birthday: he turned 54 on Thursday, Heming is 32. The pair been together for more than a year and will have a civil ceremony to confirm the marriage under US law when they return home.

John McClane 2008

Duncan Riley — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 07:42:57 +0000

For the election that has everything….

“John McClane killed a helicopter with a car, and then he walked bare-foot on broken glass, and then he fired a few people, and then he suspended whatever that was going on and proceeded to Capitol Hill to beat the crap of bad dudes and to rescue the economy.”

(via Money, Matter, and More Musings and AJ)