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Dark City: Director's Cut

(1998)

I liked, but didn't love, Alex Proyas’ film when it was released. I think the same holds true, as this version improves on the theatrical release whilst not turning it into a salvaged masterpiece.

The opening narration that gives away the plot has been excised, which is a major strength, and the 15-odd minutes of extra footage mostly allow the film to breathe easier although Proyas’ editing style works against coherence of action at times.

I've read criticism that the recut ruins the scoring, but I can't say I found this distracting. The film first came out in the same period as several similarly themed movies - The Thirteenth Floor and The Matrix among them - and this version encourages the reading that this is first and foremost a Twilight Zone-esque noirish mystery, one that is free from The Matrix's drive to get to the action (the latter is a superior, more cogent whole, as long as the sequels haven't devalued the original for you).

The mind battle, which seemed like a bit of a cop-out originally, now has an extended coda that makes it seem less significant. Whilst neither Rufus Sewell nor Jennifer Connelly make much of an impact, both Kiefer Sutherland (in a nervous, twitchy performance worthy of his dad) and Richard O'Brien (who makes the most of a fine scene discussing the effect of Sewell's implanted memories) stand out in their supporting turns.

****

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