Movie Review: Self/less

MOVIE REVIEW: Self/less (M)

Review: Usman Azad

Rating: 5/10

Each year, the movie calendar is full of films like the Tarsem Singh-directed Self/less, which stars Sir Ben Kingsley and Ryan Reynolds.

These are films that don't really leave any lasting imprint - they just take up valuable space until the next classic or blockbuster rolls around.

That is a shame because Self/less had so much potential and could have explored themes like greed, spiritually and man's quest for immortality.

Instead, it is another by-the-book sci-fi thriller that will be easily forgotten in a few weeks' time.

Self/less tells the story of dying billionaire Damien Hale (Sir Ben), who uses a little-known and expensive new technology known as shedding to transport his consciousness into another body in order to prolong his life.

The other body (Reynolds) is younger, better looking and gives Hale a newfound lease on life in New Orleans.

The only side effect is the procedure causes severe hallucinations, which can only be cured by taking a specially designed red pill.

But Hale continues to explore the meaning of the hallucinations and puts his life and others at risk.

There is very little to say about this sci-fi thriller except that it fails the biggest test of the genre.

What these films must be able to do - with the help of the suspension of disbelief that comes every time we step into a theatre - is make the viewer believe their version of reality could almost be possible, if not true.

Because of the numerous and glaring plot holes, this film made me realise that we are no closer to being able to transport our consciousness to another human.

On the same note, without some serious editing and script repairs, we are no closer to enjoying a film like this.