FilmSnobReviews

Title: Self/less
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Tarsem Singh
Starring:  Ryan Reynolds, Ben Kingsley, Natalie Martinez
Runtime: 1 hr 47 mins

What It Is: When a real-estate tycoon (Kingsley) becomes terminally ill he begins to prepare his affairs for his imminent demise. Part of this is the possibly of shedding his old body by putting his consciousness into another body. One that Damian believes has been bred for perfection. When he undergoes the process it seems almost immediately that something is wrong. He sees flashbacks of a past that isn’t his. Perhaps the origins of this new body aren’t as clear cut as they seem.

What We Think: Going in to this knowing Tarsem Singh is the director was helpful. His previous movies has been visually stunning pieces of cinema with a ridiculous narrative. In the grand spirit of tradition he very much leaving the story at the door. However, unlike his other films this one doesn’t have jaw-dropping visuals to back it up. Ryan Reynolds tries to play the action star, and that is solely the fault of David and Alex Pastor who wrote this film. You’d hope with a movie like this that the director and writers would stretch the sci-fi elements out into something that is truly original. They do not. Instead they turn this into some diluted Jason Bourne spin-off.

Our Grade: D, Not a great film, just a very very blase. More than anything it’s a missed opportunity. One that could have presented well-thought out science fiction but decided to instead take the easy way out, and go full blown action movie. Ryan Reynolds will be alright, he’s got Deadpool coming. Ben Kingsley is an Oscar-winning legend he won’t be hurt by this, but Tarsem Singh has lost trust in my book. I can’t recommend you see this farce.