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Thursday, March 15, 2012

The Lazarus Project (2008)


Shutter Island done right, or at least to the same degree of memorability.

Paul Walker stars in this derivative mind-twisting mystery. If you've seen the likes of the comparison above, you won't be surprised by the plot or the twists and turns along the way. Also, given the synopsis and ominous title, I was expecting a higher level of depth than there actually turned out to be.

However, despite a rather contrived opening act, it was thoroughly enjoyable. Walker does well and his diligent effort is noticeable in lieu of an original plot. As I said, it isn't a refreshing tale and suffers from a myriad of tropes. On the whole, it is a good film, though it could've benefited from a longer running time, mostly to elaborate on the opening act as we learn about the perfect home life for Walker's protagonist.

The pros of the film are its meek attitude, unlike Shutter Island which pretended to be bigger and better than it was, when treated with a standard mystery plot, along with a pleasant use of lighting, mood and suspense. The cons are that the evil side could have been, of course, supplied with a fresh branch to add to a tired premise and execution. But at least this film doesn't leave you begging for things to make sense or for characters to not be subdued by cliches. That being said, the conclusion is weakened by the passive nature of the antagonist(s), but I was left with a warm hopeful feeling as a result.

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