JOHNNY MNEMONIC
A film review by Stephen Donaldson
Copyright 1995 Stephen Donaldson
Donny the Punk reviews `Johnny Mnemonic'
I rarely get excited about a film, but Sarah and i saw the opening of the new Hollywood $$$$film JOHNNY MNEMONIC in New York City today, May 26. For anyone into the Internet (i.e., anyone reading this) this is a MUST SEE! Its based on William Gibsons pioneering cyberpunk short story, and Gibson also wrote the screenplay, so you have to call it a faithful adaptation.
It's the (mostly crusty/squatter type) punx of the year 2020, led by Ice-T and former Black Flag singer Henry Rollins (as a brain surgeon running an underground hospital), versus the pharmaceutical corporations, who have kept secret a cure for a horrible disease which has swept the planet, in order to keep making huge profits off a drug that treats some of the symptoms but still allows the patient to die after a while (sound familiar?), and their Yakuza Japanese Mafia goons (well, it *is* a Sony film), all in the context of a totally wired planet. Most of it takes place in the Free City of Newark, NJ (but was shot in Toronto), much of the rest takes place inside the Internet. It is very fast-paced, bloody (lots of severed body parts), well-photographed and well-directed. Not a dull moment, and I can't wait to get it on video and watch it in slow motion.
Keanu Reeves tries to avoid losing his head over the secret cure, which has been electronically downloaded into his brain for storage as a courier and delivery to Dr. Rollins. The eponymous hero delivers his lines deadface but in a voice which struck me as remarkably similar to that of Emilio Estavez in REPO MAN. His female bodyguard is a role model for all riot grrrls. Henry's acting is nothing to make an Academy nomination with, but the legions of punk anti-Rollins fans may enjoy seeing him get killed by a deranged cyborg Christian (Dolph Lundgren, who made the most of a small part).
Run, don't walk, to your nearest theater and see it now.
Donny the Punk
PS--Tristar has a Web site with info on this flick: http://www.sony.com
-- Stephen Donaldson sprdon@ix.netcom.com http://www.ai.mit.edu/people/ellens/SPR/spr.html.
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