Dark City (1998) [R]

A man wakes up in a hotel bathtub in city that is in perpetual night. He has no memory of who he is but discovers a horrible murder has taken place in the room. Is he the murderer? The phone rings and a voice tells him to run because "The Strangers" are after him. So begins this dense, thought-provoking film.

What is going on?  He sees the city torn down and rebuilt every night. Everyone sleeps and wake to new identities. As the man uncovers the mysteries, he also finds he has special powers. And he has memories...

The movie poses some good questions: are we our memories? What is the source of human resilience? How do we survive and adapt from all we experience? What is the soul and where is it?

Perhaps not a great movie, the film has developed a following. It has amazing special effects: watching the city collapse in on itself and rebuild is spectacular. There are many surprises along the way, although the ultimate answers to the mystery is not as original as the effects. Watch this with friends and you will have great fodder for some deep philosophical conversation.

Remember, the promise of this blog is to recommend interesting movies, if not great ones. This one is worth seeing!

DIRECTOR: Alex Proyas.  CAST: Rufus Sewell, Kiefer Sutherland, Jennifer Connelly, Richard O'Brien, Ian Richardson, Colin Friels, Bruce Spence, Willliam Hurt.

AWARDS: 6 wins and 7 other nominations.