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DVD The Final Cut
While it works better as a somber mood piece than a futuristic thriller, The Final Cut posits a unique what-if scenario that some viewers will find fascinating. In a role that calls for his low-key One Hour Photo persona, Robin Williams plays an expert "cutter" who's in demand for his ability to distill anyone's lifetime into a feature-length "rememory" film that highlights the better side of anyone's nature. His profession is made possible by the "Zoe" chip, a prenatal brain implant capable of recording a person's entire lifetime--a technology opposed by a former cutter (Jim Caviezel) and puzzled over by Williams' on-and-off girlfriend (Mira Sorvino). First-time writer-director Omar Naim divided critics with his impressive visual style and lackluster screenplay, which fails to account for the larger implications of the Zoe chip's exploitation. Still, the film contains several intriguing ideas that place it among other sci-fi films like Gattaca, suggesting one of the many potential controversies that await us in a future where ethics and technology are not always compatible. --Jeff Shannon
Whenever I see that Robin Williams is in a movie, I just know that I'm gonna love it. No exception here, and I'm a sci-fi fan to boot.
The Final Cut presents a unique concept: what if we could have memory chips implanted in our brains that recorded our every movement from birth, so that we had a virtual electronic diary of our experience when we died? Sounds Orwellian but the inventors of this innovative idea meant for it to provide solace to family members after a loved one had passed on, since it made it possible for the "cutter" to cut or remix parts of an individual's life and put them up on the big screen during a funeral or wake.
Obviously, the chip was bound to create problems with privacy, legality, ethics and morality. Williams and his cohorts act out this improbable theme well. The movie works as a drama, as science-fiction and a bit as suspense. I was impressed.
Sigrid Mac
Author of D'Amour Road
Great Movie Premise, but it Fails to Make any Strong Statements
Robin Williams was known as the consummate funny man in his early Hollywood career and he has made many memorable comedy films and television appearances. But Williams has also demonstrated his ability to act in more serious roles too, like his portrayal of a man who works in the field of high tech in this movie, "The Final Cut".
Williams' character in this movie has an unusual occupation: He is a "cutter"- a person responsible for editing out selected parts of a person's life story from a full- length recording of his/her life. This task is performed at the time of a person's death and the resulting film is shown at a "rememory" celebration, which is a new way to remember past friends and relatives and is meant to take the place of a funeral.
Williams' character is a troubled soul in this movie and he is forced to deal with all sorts of issues as he performs his job. Protestors are one of his many menaces. As you might guess, some members of the general public strongly object to editing a person's memory. This movie makes you think about technological advancement and the possibility of it being taken too far- to the point where questionable ethics and decision making become the norm in society.
As much as I like the premise of this movie and agree that it makes a strong basis for a great film, I am a little disappointed with this film as a whole. The main problem I have with it is that it doesn't cross- examine the subject matter very deeply. Here you have a guy who can change a person's life story if he wishes. You have people protesting his actions and wishing he and others like him were dead. But there is no real analysis of the subject and its moral and ethical implications. No one really talks about the pros and cons to society or anything else. The movie runs its course without really saying or telling you very much at all, making it a forgettable motion picture.
Robin Williams is ok in this role, but I didn't care much for his character. He is basically a wimp who doesn't stand up for himself in any way. The other performers in this movie are only average, but the reason for their collective mediocrity has more to do with weak writing and sub par direction than lack of talent.
Overall, this movie is a grave disappointment. The premise behind the movie is excellent and it could have been made into a five- star motion picture with a solid script and some sound directing. But the movie basically says nothing at all and a short time after viewing, I found that it was quickly fading from my memory as another forgettable "b" movie.
Okay - but far from great
This movie started well, but then faltered. For example, Robin Williams' character failed to take a moral stand on possible incest, choosing instead to edit out that portion of a client's life. It seemd that the only thing that shook him was his discovery that he had been implanted with a Zoe chip.
Perhaps a better plot would have saved this movie from mediocrity. Mr. Williams is a great actor (see ONE HOUR PHOTO), but this time, he seemed a bit flat. Mira Sorvino and James Caveziel were complete wasted in this film.
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