Dark City is a crazy neo noir scifi thriller from 1998, that was clearly a strong influence on The Matrix. It's also a great, fun, intriguing puzzle of a movie in its own right.
Oh this got all the attention it deserved from Those of us who loved films when they weren’t all sequels, prequels, threequels, fuckquels etc. great choice. Fanfuckingtastic film is Dark City.
I liked this movie a lot back in the day! when the Matrix came out and even now I can also believe they are related, as in the Dark City is one of the failed attempts by the machines to control humans.
I can't help but be reminded of during the Matrix regurgitation's naval gasing meta critiques they described the Matrix as "mind porn" which just made me laugh, but this is a more thoughtful film.
Even as a teenager, I remember sitting in an almost empty theatre watching this movie, and knew I was watching something special. Few movies at that time had mastered pacing and atmosphere as well, and the fact that it didn’t get more well know is a crime of cinema.
congrats then. not many people would get this, let alone as such a youngster, even though it's not really rocket science to discern good movies from bad ones. it was the same for me, i loved it but i will never understand how most people of the audience cannot appreciate a good movie like this.
@@arrathix1063 that's what i did and it makes no sense to me whatsoever. i realize modern audiences are mostly dumbed down but it wasn't always like this. at least not this bad
@@underdogjourney yeah, the phone booth Trinity uses to escape the agents at the start of The Matrix is the same phone booth Schrieber uses to call Murdoch from at the start of Dark City. And the spiral staircase Neo sees the de ja vu cat on is the same staircase Baumstead chases Murdoch down in his apartment building. In my opinion Dark City > all those movies.
I'd also add the film "The Thirteenth Floor" to this. It was made about a year earlier, and literally has the same concept of a virtual world. The movie isn't perfect (or amazing), but it blew my mind before I saw the Matrix (The Matrix #1 is still an amazing movie). The movie has been copied 1001 times since then - I think it's worth the watch.
@@johnstrawb3521 It may not be the deepest of movies, but it has a lot of atmosphere. It has a strong 1950s noir feel to it and also feels dreamlike at the same time, which I love and enjoy in itself. The story can be secondary in that case. @ Ze'ev Abrams The Thirteenth Floor was a year later (1999) than Dark City.
This is a tragically under appreciated and overlooked movie. I saw this in the theater when it was released without knowing anything about it. The cast sold me and I was blown away after seeing it. Still watch this at least 2x a year and it’s still great.
I have a framed poster of it in my living room and own 4 copies of it - the Theatrical Cut Region 2 DVD (my region), the Theartical Cut Region 1 DVD, the Director's Cut DVD and the Director's Cut blu ray. If they bring it out on 4K UHD I'll get it on that format, too. 😃 Yes, it's my favourite film.
To this day, Dark City remains my favorite movie. Way back in the day, my friends took me to see this movie, which hadn't been on my radar at all. Despite the narration that the director's cut thankfully excises, that was quite the experience. Particularly since that group of friends were players in the old White Wolf TTRPG Mage: the Ascension. Which was all about the mutability of reality, perception, and belief. So that was neat.
I was working as a projectionist when this movie came out. Couldn't wait to see it! I think Kiefer Sutherland playing the doctor with a Peter Lorre vibe was brilliant!
I bought this movie unseen on a whim last year and watched the director's cut of this movie first. I am so thankful that I did. COMPLETELY AVOID the theatrical cut until you've seen the directors cut. The directors cut lets you explore and learn what is happening. The theatrical cut was the result of studio execs thinking the audience would be too dumb to get it otherwise.
Dearest Drinker , acknowledge the directors cut as it makes this film into the masterpiece it was always meant to be. Alex Proyas is one unsung director.
@@johnnyskinwalker4095 Gods of Egypt wasn't a bad movie. It just got bad press from the ignorant racist SJW mob who mistalenly think all Africans must be Black. Alex Proyas was born in Egypt, to a millenia-old community of Greek-Egyptians, and had every right to make that movie, which was a complete non-controversy in Egypt itself btw. Yes it was a weird movie. Weird is good. Weird means taking risks, something Hollywood used to do.
@@humankirk9196 Taking risks? I don't think Gods of Egypt was a weird movie. Dark City was a weird movie. Gods of Egypt was an over produced over-the-top Hollywood movie. Shallow CGI entertainment. Now I don't think it was an abomination like some people are saying but it felt like a for-hire work in the vein of Clash of Titans or Wrath of the Titans. The traces of Alex Proyas the artful interesting filmmaker was long gone from this movie. It's the sort of movie they could have given to any video clip directors.
It's my favorite film. The combination of film noir and sci fi is brilliant as is the addition of German expressionism. It's a hidden gem worthy of more fame.
Kiefer Sutherland is great in this movie, and it's interesting to see him in a non action role for a change. The way he talks in this movie is so strange and adds so much to his character. Also, goes without saying, but William Hurt is a master class actor as always.
Your point on Kiefer Sutherland's voice, for most of the movie he gives off this creepy villain vibe that just plain marks him as suspicious. One of his best, if not the best performance from him.
Honestly, the doctor is probably the most interesting character in this movie. Everything he does catches your attention, because you never truly know what his agenda is until the very end, and his personal story is very interesting to learn about.
@@richardhockey8442 Yea, and there's this cool duality to his persona. You can clearly tell that he enjoys the work the strangers have him do, and you also see him help John. Combine that with his unique speech pattern and odd gait (courtesy of Sutherland's great acting) and he becomes such a fascinating character.
This is my favorite movie. There's just something about the style (that mishmash of 20s, 50s, and 80s you mention) that grabs me (And I've had a crush on Jennifer Connelly since Labyrinth). The 2008 Director's Cut removes the opening narration, adds lots of dialogue, and puts the majority of cut scenes back in.
That's the only version I have seen- never knew there was an opening narration and wondered what Drinker was talking about ...til I read your comment of course:)
It was funny how every movie she appeared in, including Dark City, was a great movie but mostly bombed in theaters. The best of these is Dark City. Seen it over 100 times by now
What I want to see in a fancy restaurant, is a large 100" lcd tv turned on it side to display a lip-synching avatar of Jennifer Connelly wearing that sexy green dress while various slow jazz music plays. Have the avatar's eyes follow every passer-by with a flirty wink, and you've got a hit.
"The drinker sympathizes with this situation." Illeism + Context = Perfect line. I'm getting floored by the visuals you're showing. Everything is bled out in terms of the color palette and yet what you mention in the 50's cars and 80's industrial buildings along with everything else creates something that is downright lush and that would seem to be impossible considering drained colors are normally anything but lush. To put it bluntly, it looks incredible. I think my dad saw it when it came out and I'm not sure whether he liked it or not. Maybe the flaws you mention got to him or were distracting. Whatever the case, again, the movie just looks stunning and it will probably be inexcusable for me to miss it at this point.
If you're going to see it, see the Director's Cut. It fixes nearly all the problems of the Theatrical Cut, including the stupid exposition at the start of the movie that almost ruins the payoff. The Director's Cut is superior to the Theatrical in every way and is the ONLY way to view this movie.
You forgot the best Matrix fact... part of the opening of The Matrix (the rooftop chase) was _literally shot on the same set_ as Dark City, with that in mind I can only imagine the whole similarity is a coincidence. They wouldn't be audacious enough to do that if they were ripping the movie off, would they? And the actual productions were so close together... Plenty of films around that time were about escape from our dull reality. Hell, '99 even had a hat trick of deadbeat office escapees with Office Space (February), The Matrix (June) and Fight Club (November).
Evne tho their moment of glory pasted The Wachovski's are reall cinema and Pop culture lovers So them using Dark City sets, is not has innocent or fortuitous as you might think, while also not being them ripping it off. Maybe there is no other deep meaning than to just be an easter egg or a Nod to a film that inspired them, or at least was in the same themes that they wanted to make a movie about Matrix also shares many visual similarities with their First movie Bound.
I saw this when it came out in the cinema. Apart from the stunningly inventive story I was amazed at the high calibre of cast. Some truly legendary names came together in this.
And such an ecclestic cast, too! Keifer Sutherland, Rufus Sewell, Richard O'Brien, Jennifer Connelly, William Hurt, Ian Richardson - these are actors that you just wouldn't expect to see in a movie together, and yet they all work so amazingly with each other. Richard O'brien is the writer of the Rocky Horror Picture Show and also plays Riff Raff, but he's perhaps best known here in the UK as the host of a gameshow from the 80s/90s called The Crystal Maze - and yet here he is absolutely slaying it as a villain in one of the most sinister and disturbing performances I've ever seen. This was just before Sutherland's big comeback with 24 but you'd still never expect to see him and O'Brien in the same movie, and yet they have such amazing chemistry with each other, it's fantastic. Also, Bruce Spence, who played the Gyro Captain in The Road Warrior, is in this movie as Mr. Wall. 😃
I though Sutherland and Hurt were amazing, Hurt became one of my favorite because of this movie. And Sewell was also excellent. And, well, we all know that some Jennifer Connelly in a movie is never a bad thing. I did not know them at the time, but the two main villains were very good.
I love when someone points out that this movie exist, it's one of the movies that when I saw I thought "how is it that I never heard about this absolute gem before?". The '90 were a blast: Strange Days, Dark City, The Matrix, Gattaca, Seven, 12 Monkeys...
Not to mention eXistenZ, Cube, The Usual Suspects, From Dusk Till Dawn, Leon.... the 90's were good to cinema, it's the reason I became a projectionist
Another hidden gem you can throw in this bunch is Mimic. At least I thought it was well done. Guillermo del Toro directed and Mira Sorvino when she was at the height of her popularity after her Oscar win/nom?
Thank you for covering this. Dark City is one of those movies I always find myself coming back to every once in a while. There's just something special about these 1990s movies (e.g. Se7en, Fight Club, The Matrix, Heat, The Usual Suspects), and I notice how many of them have aged way better than stuff produced years later. It was a point where filmmakers seemed to have found the perfect balance between style, character development and an interesting plot, and special effects were done just right, with a nice balance between practical effects and CGI.
Damn, that's a helluva line up right there. The only one I haven't seen is The Usual Suspects. All my friends tell me it's a must see and right up my alley. I think our society as a whole peaked in the 90's.
I could not agree with both of you more. I would even throw Blade in there - yes, I know it's an absurd comic book action movie about vampires, but my point is even a daft movie like _that_ exhibited the qualities you listed in the 90s, before everything went down hill.
I managed to convince a friend of mine to teach this movie as part of his science fiction literature course. It's an absolute benchmark of storytelling against which other movies and stories should be compared. Also, two words: Director's Cut (eliminates the opening narration and adds a little more that enhances the movie.)
I still love how the crazed detective was the former lead actor of the Australian cop drama, Water Rats. Colin Friels made a great Walenski. Still feel Dark City is the superior film against The Matrix. Kinda glad we only ever got one film, too, 'cause look how it turned out for the latter.
@Simulation algorithm I was hoping you were trolling, but nope... just saw this on ScreenRant, _"The Crow director Alex Proyas reveals that he is in the "very early stages" of preparing a TV series adaptation of his 1998 film Dark City."_
One of the best movies of its time. I remember being bored and had walked pass the little cinema several times and being curious about it. finally asking the lady at the ticket widow weather it was any good and she beamed with big smile and said Onyah! seen it a dozen times already and I never get tired of it so I bought a ticket. I remember when I came out of the theater looking around waiting for the building to start changing and saying to the ticket lady everything is going to different now. just in the same way when you see other life changing movies. you start asking questions and not quite trusting things around you anymore, well we know all about that these days, HUH! it was sort the same after I read Gorge Orwell's 1984 except this was a cool fantasy sci fi and 1984 was prophecy.
I'm glad you finally covered this movie. It's one of my top 10. I've seen it a few dozen times. I remember seeing it in the theater and was blown away. The Director's Cut Blu-ray includes a lot of commentaries. I've listened to Roger Ebert's and it's very good.
NOTEWORTHY: Roger Ebert felt so strongly about championing this underappreciated film that he did a commentary for the disc release. One of the best commentary tracks ever put on disc. Really adds to the appreciation of this movie. (EDIT - I initially brain farted and put "Gene Siskel" - corrected)-
Yes this audio commentary is a mini film school and then some! You can learn more from RE’s commentary about directorial perspective on the disc than you will in a year in school IMO. I listened to it twice in a row once. Glad you brought it up!
Can we all just take a moment and admire that this is a movie about mind erasing aliens with a film noir setting, packed with sex, mystery and an interesting protagonist
WOW. I had just decided to watch it tonight to see if it was as good as I remember. And u upload this video. And I didn't remember it because of the new Matrix. I remembered because I watched an OG noir film called "The third man".
@Simulation algorithm I took a Graham Greene seminar in graduate school many years ago (from Dr. Peter Wolfe, who is still, I think, recognized as a foremost Greene scholar) and read most of his novels and "entertainments.". Greene was really good.
@Subpar JennaTalia Third Man was an Orson Welles movie shot on location in Vienna just after WW2. They couldn't remake that movie even if they tried, it's a time capsule
This is a good one. Memorability is on of the key measures of movie quality. I haven't seen it in ages, but I remember it clearly and still quote little bits of it in conversation sometimes.
This is one of my favorite movies, but for GOD'S SAKE make sure to get the director's cut. The theatrical release spoils the whole thing with some unnecessary, opening exposition that doesn't add anything and assumes you're too dumb to understand what's going on.
I loved Dark City when it came out. Another interesting film from the same time and in the same vein as this and the Matrix is The Thirteenth Floor. Maybe that would make for another good After Hours review.
This movie is truely epic. I can't say how many times I've watched it. In the original cut, they dubbed over Jennifer Connely's voice in her singing scenes. In the Directors Cut, they used her voice... That girl can sing!
There was a movie called 'Split' that came out in 1989 (unrelated to the 2016 movie of the same name) that dealt with that whole "reality is fake" concept.
I remember reading a Negative film Review for The Matrix when it came out and I remember 1 line that stood out and I still remember it to this day "........All it is is 'Dark City' with Martial Arts. And Dark City is a much better Movie" I haven't seen it since High School but I remember it being pretty good. Might need to give it a rewatch
So The Matrix is Dark City + Cobra Kai? That would explain how Johnny "cures" Miguel's asthma and helps Aisha lose weight. Jokes aside Dark City's the film I own on DVD, not The Matrix.
This film got absolutely trashed by the critics who often called it a "confused mess" or "unintelligible" and I remember thinking at the time that if such an awesome movie with a not too intricate plot could completely go over the heads of critics and audience alike, then maybe intelligent sci fi plots would always be doomed. Thankfully things have changed somewhat since then, but this film was truly revolutionary and ahead of its time. It was one of the first DVDs I ever bothered to own (HD with 2 sides to fit the whole movie on!) and I reckon I wore it out. Exceptional film!
yeah every critic that said that I just thought were stupid people I mean actually unintelligent like small children or a dog...well maybe not even a dog
@Neon Thunderbird Roger Ebert lost a few points when he condemned John Carpenter's "The Thing", though. Good, but not the greatest. He had his off days. I can relate better to the Drinker.
@@vilefly he watched *everything*, in every genre, reviewed them honestly, and never read off a script. Only one who comes close to him is Leonard Maltin. Was the only reviewer I'd read before going to the cinema. Rotten Tomatoes doing these things algorithmically is nonsense as most reviewers that RT base their score upon are untrustworthy
It's NOT neo-noir. It's PURE noir. All action takes place at night. Check. Undercurrents of betrayal and mystery. Check. Plot like an onion where the layers are slowly peeled off. Check. Pure noir.
Superb movie. A great follow from Alex Proyas to The Crow. Used the same set as The Matrix, I believe. Sets shot on film just look better than greenscreen shot on digital
I love the effects that can be done with greenscreens and CGI, but like any other toy Hollywood gets its grubby mitts on, it doesn't know when it's too much.
Dark City & The Matrix actually used a few cityscape sets. That didn't help distinguishing it. But it's a fantastic movie. If you watch the theatrical version, mute the audio until you first see the syringe. Then unmute and buckle up. The director's cut is superior though.
As much as I love this movie, even I forgot about it 😞. It was eclipsed by the matrix and my late teens/early 20 self was "blinded" by the early internet, Virtual reality and video games emergence of the 90's. Now, I actualy prefer Dark City. Maybe it's the Classy Look of the gorgeous Jennifer Conolly and the "ageless" atmosphere of the movie compared to the very dated 90's feel and aesthetics of the Matrix, from the music, the "grundge" look of the "real world" and the Leather and trenchecoat wardrobe to the beautiful, latex clad, Carry Ann Moss. I think Dark City, like a beautiful woman, demands appreciation. 😉
Mr. Hand was amazing! He seemed to have a touch more individuality than the other strangers, and really suffered with his desires. In the director's cut he more or less explains his pain to Emma Murdoch by the water. Kind of an outlier of his species, even capable of sudden, brief periods of rage. Absolutely desperate to experience "a soul" as he misunderstood it, he was more than willing to risk his life for it with his proposal to be imprinted under the false pretense of just catching Murdoch.
Fun fact the editor’s cut version doesn’t have an opening narration. Apparently the executives thought the whole story would make people’s brains hurt thus the narration, this kind of off beat dumbing down or is not uncommon especially for movies aired on television. It works for most , but not for movies like blade runner (out of place unicorn dream scene), dark city(exposition dump via opening narration) and other countless films.
I'm so glad you have done this one Drinker!! I saw it back in 98 at the cinema - it was awesome!! Greetings from Australia 😁. ps ---> we could do with alot more movies these days that stray away from "The Message", as I'm rather over having that particular agenda rammed down my throat any time I choose a movie to watch. 🙄
Allways had a soft spot for this this one since seeing it on VCR back in the day. And not just because of Jennifer Connely. But also because of Jennifer Connely.
I remember renting this on VHS when it was first released for home video, and I enjoyed it. I don't think I've watched it again since so I guess I'll do so soon.
This always felt a bit too bombastic and derivative to me. A nice Twilight Zone episode that punches above its weight with some great visuals, worth a watch for a genre fan but not much more.
Yea but they filmed at the same studio back to back, I don't know how many of the same people were involved in both, anyway if dark city started filming earlier matrix could have been playing catch up with the same people in the same studio. Who knows,
@@jhnshep I know very little about film development, so was more of a question of is that possible/valid more than disagreeing with what was said in the video
Dark City is an absolute hidden gem. Till this day I highly recommend it. The last battle even looks great without looking totally dated and was quite awesome. Amazing movie.
3:55 Yes, watch the director's cut if you can. The studio decided the audience was too stupid and put that spoiler narration in the theatrical release.
when i rewatched that movie with my sister few years ago, not even half hour in and she was already confused wtf is going on so... Studio was kinda right.
@@MrDeothor Movie plots are not meant to be fully understood end to end from the beginning, Imagine Shyamalan movies being spoiled at their beginning because "people could be confused". It's normal to be confused at the beginning of Dark City, it's intended.
This is one of those all time greats That for whatever reason just gets no kind of proper release. This The Cabin In the Woods, Idiocracy. Just a crime that they didn't get a decent release. An absolute gem. I recent got the Director's cut on Amazon Prime, And it somehow manages to be better than the original cut. Plus it fixes that whole narrative bit you mentioned in the beginning.
Drinker, this is a criminally underrated movie. Very creepy atmosphere and setting. It reminds me that every once in a while a film comes out that doesn't follow the template set out by the huge conglomerates but blazes its own path and becomes something special. Great choice sir!!
I adore this film. The director's cut does away with the awful narration.
Oh really? Very interesting.
Enjoy this movie, yes?
Agreed, if you're going to watch this film, the Directors Cut is the only proper way to experience this awesome movie.
@@satnav1980 Yep. It also adds in cut scenes and more dialogue. Absolutely superior to the theatrical release.
That’s good to know. Great movie, but I’ve never watched the director’s cut.
This is one of the movies I always recommend to anyone to anyone who hasn't seen it, which is most people.
I love that film and I've watched it several times over the years.
I didn't remember the special effects for this movie being so good.
Oh this got all the attention it deserved from Those of us who loved films when they weren’t all sequels, prequels, threequels, fuckquels etc. great choice. Fanfuckingtastic film is Dark City.
I liked this movie a lot back in the day! when the Matrix came out and even now I can also believe they are related, as in the Dark City is one of the failed attempts by the machines to control humans.
What a great documentary about our world dark city is 🙌🏻😂
AWESOME MOVIE!!!
My favourite scifi film
I can't help but be reminded of during the Matrix regurgitation's naval gasing meta critiques they described the Matrix as "mind porn" which just made me laugh, but this is a more thoughtful film.
I want to watch this movie now!
This film was brilliant
Masterpiece, enough said :)
Jennifer Connelly was at her absolute best here. Basically perfect
One of my favorites ty drinker. But I would also like to get you thought on the movie the 23th floor someday.
Great choice of film
The Matrix also used one of the sets from Dark City.
Even as a teenager, I remember sitting in an almost empty theatre watching this movie, and knew I was watching something special. Few movies at that time had mastered pacing and atmosphere as well, and the fact that it didn’t get more well know is a crime of cinema.
congrats then. not many people would get this, let alone as such a youngster, even though it's not really rocket science to discern good movies from bad ones. it was the same for me, i loved it but i will never understand how most people of the audience cannot appreciate a good movie like this.
@@hazardeur Just compare it to what actually is popular for a few seconds and it all makes perfect sense :)
@@arrathix1063 that's what i did and it makes no sense to me whatsoever. i realize modern audiences are mostly dumbed down but it wasn't always like this. at least not this bad
Yea if you like watching a mash up of the movie momento and a darker version of total recall
Let's be honest any film with a young Jennifer Connelly is a very good film.
Would still fire one into her.
absolutely. i forgot just how goddamn great she looked. they sure as shit don't make em like her anymore.
Agreed and Melissa George isn't hard on the eyes either!
@@silenceoftheyams7647 All the buxom women are on cam sites earning a fortune for less work.
She was divine in this film.
And she still turns heads today.
Basically, if you combine Dark City with Ghost in the Shell, you’ve got the Matrix.
The Matrix was actually filmed at the same studios as Dark City (the Fox annex in Sydney, Australia), and even re-used some of the same sets.
@@AdmiralBonetoPick Oh really? That actually makes a lot of sense then! Lol
Also, if you combine Blade Runner with Robocop, you get Ghost In The Shell...
Definitely some favorites!
@@underdogjourney yeah, the phone booth Trinity uses to escape the agents at the start of The Matrix is the same phone booth Schrieber uses to call Murdoch from at the start of Dark City.
And the spiral staircase Neo sees the de ja vu cat on is the same staircase Baumstead chases Murdoch down in his apartment building.
In my opinion Dark City > all those movies.
It was filmed at the same studio as The Matrix- Fox Studios in Sydney. A friend of mine worked there and got me in for a peek at the sets.
Dark city is one of my all time favorites. It's a masterpiece. Glad you picked it up.
One of the last great movies I went to see at the cinema. It definitely left a lasting impression. Sort of like Brazil.
I'd also add the film "The Thirteenth Floor" to this. It was made about a year earlier, and literally has the same concept of a virtual world. The movie isn't perfect (or amazing), but it blew my mind before I saw the Matrix (The Matrix #1 is still an amazing movie). The movie has been copied 1001 times since then - I think it's worth the watch.
Thirteenth Floor is an empty drag, unfortunately.
The book is much better: Simulacron-3 (1964) (also published as Counterfeit World), by Daniel F. Galouye
And made as World on Wire, right?
@@kinghadbar yes, originally; altho this german production is much obscure and less known than the Hollywood version.
@@johnstrawb3521 It may not be the deepest of movies, but it has a lot of atmosphere. It has a strong 1950s noir feel to it and also feels dreamlike at the same time, which I love and enjoy in itself. The story can be secondary in that case.
@ Ze'ev Abrams The Thirteenth Floor was a year later (1999) than Dark City.
This is a tragically under appreciated and overlooked movie. I saw this in the theater when it was released without knowing anything about it. The cast sold me and I was blown away after seeing it. Still watch this at least 2x a year and it’s still great.
Yes. Agreed, and same.
It definitely bears rewatching. I wish I could have seen it in a theater the first time. I saw it on a VCR and a 20 inch screen. I think I lost out.
@@comingviking I solved that problem by getting a projector and 80” screen for my home. It really brings a lot of movies back to life!
Me to them got a dodgy pirate copy lol Great film
I have a framed poster of it in my living room and own 4 copies of it - the Theatrical Cut Region 2 DVD (my region), the Theartical Cut Region 1 DVD, the Director's Cut DVD and the Director's Cut blu ray. If they bring it out on 4K UHD I'll get it on that format, too. 😃
Yes, it's my favourite film.
To this day, Dark City remains my favorite movie. Way back in the day, my friends took me to see this movie, which hadn't been on my radar at all. Despite the narration that the director's cut thankfully excises, that was quite the experience. Particularly since that group of friends were players in the old White Wolf TTRPG Mage: the Ascension. Which was all about the mutability of reality, perception, and belief. So that was neat.
ah that's funny I always wished director Alex Proyas should have done a Vampire: The Masquerade adaptation.
I was working as a projectionist when this movie came out. Couldn't wait to see it!
I think Kiefer Sutherland playing the doctor with a Peter Lorre vibe was brilliant!
he was just excellent and I never connected peter lorre to this but now that you have its all i can see lol
@@mikepette4422 thank you! It's an underscore to the movie's classic noir roots.
I bought this movie unseen on a whim last year and watched the director's cut of this movie first. I am so thankful that I did. COMPLETELY AVOID the theatrical cut until you've seen the directors cut. The directors cut lets you explore and learn what is happening. The theatrical cut was the result of studio execs thinking the audience would be too dumb to get it otherwise.
Well, too late for that, dammit.
Dearest Drinker , acknowledge the directors cut as it makes this film into the masterpiece it was always meant to be.
Alex Proyas is one unsung director.
I've always been drawn to this movie's message. I'd love to see the director's cut. Can you help me find it?
...and then he made Gods of Egypt
@@adampositron6871 video stores or second hand stores should be able to help you find a copy.
@@johnnyskinwalker4095 Gods of Egypt wasn't a bad movie. It just got bad press from the ignorant racist SJW mob who mistalenly think all Africans must be Black. Alex Proyas was born in Egypt, to a millenia-old community of Greek-Egyptians, and had every right to make that movie, which was a complete non-controversy in Egypt itself btw.
Yes it was a weird movie. Weird is good. Weird means taking risks, something Hollywood used to do.
@@humankirk9196 Taking risks? I don't think Gods of Egypt was a weird movie. Dark City was a weird movie. Gods of Egypt was an over produced over-the-top Hollywood movie. Shallow CGI entertainment. Now I don't think it was an abomination like some people are saying but it felt like a for-hire work in the vein of Clash of Titans or Wrath of the Titans. The traces of Alex Proyas the artful interesting filmmaker was long gone from this movie. It's the sort of movie they could have given to any video clip directors.
"Dark City" is the first movie I ever purchased on DVD. Worth watching, worth re-watching.
The directors cut was my first bluray purchase 🙂
It's my favorite film. The combination of film noir and sci fi is brilliant as is the addition of German expressionism. It's a hidden gem worthy of more fame.
Kiefer Sutherland is great in this movie, and it's interesting to see him in a non action role for a change. The way he talks in this movie is so strange and adds so much to his character. Also, goes without saying, but William Hurt is a master class actor as always.
Your point on Kiefer Sutherland's voice, for most of the movie he gives off this creepy villain vibe that just plain marks him as suspicious. One of his best, if not the best performance from him.
I think he was going for an Orson Wells voice
Honestly, the doctor is probably the most interesting character in this movie. Everything he does catches your attention, because you never truly know what his agenda is until the very end, and his personal story is very interesting to learn about.
@@carljohan9265 He's the only one apart from the strangers who has an inkling of who the people in the city were, and even doesn't remember anymore
@@richardhockey8442 Yea, and there's this cool duality to his persona.
You can clearly tell that he enjoys the work the strangers have him do, and you also see him help John.
Combine that with his unique speech pattern and odd gait (courtesy of Sutherland's great acting) and he becomes such a fascinating character.
This is my favorite movie. There's just something about the style (that mishmash of 20s, 50s, and 80s you mention) that grabs me (And I've had a crush on Jennifer Connelly since Labyrinth). The 2008 Director's Cut removes the opening narration, adds lots of dialogue, and puts the majority of cut scenes back in.
That's the only version I have seen- never knew there was an opening narration and wondered what Drinker was talking about ...til I read your comment of course:)
A man of culture as well.
It was funny how every movie she appeared in, including Dark City, was a great movie but mostly bombed in theaters.
The best of these is Dark City. Seen it over 100 times by now
What I want to see in a fancy restaurant, is a large 100" lcd tv turned on it side to display a lip-synching avatar of Jennifer Connelly wearing that sexy green dress while various slow jazz music plays. Have the avatar's eyes follow every passer-by with a flirty wink, and you've got a hit.
More like 1920s, 30s and 40s. The Film Noir era. Definitely not the 1980s
"The drinker sympathizes with this situation." Illeism + Context = Perfect line.
I'm getting floored by the visuals you're showing. Everything is bled out in terms of the color palette and yet what you mention in the 50's cars and 80's industrial buildings along with everything else creates something that is downright lush and that would seem to be impossible considering drained colors are normally anything but lush. To put it bluntly, it looks incredible. I think my dad saw it when it came out and I'm not sure whether he liked it or not. Maybe the flaws you mention got to him or were distracting. Whatever the case, again, the movie just looks stunning and it will probably be inexcusable for me to miss it at this point.
If you're going to see it, see the Director's Cut. It fixes nearly all the problems of the Theatrical Cut, including the stupid exposition at the start of the movie that almost ruins the payoff. The Director's Cut is superior to the Theatrical in every way and is the ONLY way to view this movie.
You forgot the best Matrix fact... part of the opening of The Matrix (the rooftop chase) was _literally shot on the same set_ as Dark City, with that in mind I can only imagine the whole similarity is a coincidence. They wouldn't be audacious enough to do that if they were ripping the movie off, would they? And the actual productions were so close together...
Plenty of films around that time were about escape from our dull reality. Hell, '99 even had a hat trick of deadbeat office escapees with Office Space (February), The Matrix (June) and Fight Club (November).
Evne tho their moment of glory pasted
The Wachovski's are reall cinema and Pop culture lovers
So them using Dark City sets, is not has innocent or fortuitous as you might think, while also not being them ripping it off.
Maybe there is no other deep meaning than to just be an easter egg or a Nod to a film that inspired them, or at least was in the same themes that they wanted to make a movie about
Matrix also shares many visual similarities with their First movie Bound.
the rooftop chase scene was directly copied, even the building jump and stumble.
And the little bald kid would later tell us, "There is no spoon.".
I literally can't get enough of this style of movie. 90s was full of this gold.
Name some pls
Strange Days, Brazil, both come to mind
@@humankirk9196 Brazil came out in the '80s. One of its tentative titles was "1984-1/2" ("Nineteen-Eighty-Four-and-a-Half").
Gattaca also, such beautiful science fiction movies that were actually about something.
Also check out In The Mouth of Madness.
Yes. Yes it was
I saw this when it came out in the cinema.
Apart from the stunningly inventive story I was amazed at the high calibre of cast. Some truly legendary names came together in this.
And such an ecclestic cast, too! Keifer Sutherland, Rufus Sewell, Richard O'Brien, Jennifer Connelly, William Hurt, Ian Richardson - these are actors that you just wouldn't expect to see in a movie together, and yet they all work so amazingly with each other. Richard O'brien is the writer of the Rocky Horror Picture Show and also plays Riff Raff, but he's perhaps best known here in the UK as the host of a gameshow from the 80s/90s called The Crystal Maze - and yet here he is absolutely slaying it as a villain in one of the most sinister and disturbing performances I've ever seen. This was just before Sutherland's big comeback with 24 but you'd still never expect to see him and O'Brien in the same movie, and yet they have such amazing chemistry with each other, it's fantastic.
Also, Bruce Spence, who played the Gyro Captain in The Road Warrior, is in this movie as Mr. Wall. 😃
@@JadeRunner Bruce Spence! The ONE guy who played in the LotR trilogy, the Matrix trilogy and the Star Wars prequel trilogy about at the same time.
I though Sutherland and Hurt were amazing, Hurt became one of my favorite because of this movie.
And Sewell was also excellent.
And, well, we all know that some Jennifer Connelly in a movie is never a bad thing.
I did not know them at the time, but the two main villains were very good.
I love when someone points out that this movie exist, it's one of the movies that when I saw I thought "how is it that I never heard about this absolute gem before?". The '90 were a blast: Strange Days, Dark City, The Matrix, Gattaca, Seven, 12 Monkeys...
Gattaca. . . fkn awesome and worthy of an Extra Shots
Dang! Now I’m going to have to watch 12 Monkeys again. So good!
Not to mention eXistenZ, Cube, The Usual Suspects, From Dusk Till Dawn, Leon.... the 90's were good to cinema, it's the reason I became a projectionist
Another hidden gem you can throw in this bunch is Mimic. At least I thought it was well done. Guillermo del Toro directed and Mira Sorvino when she was at the height of her popularity after her Oscar win/nom?
One of the last great movies I went to see at the cinema. It definitely left a lasting impression. Sort of like Brazil.
Strange Days was exellent too.
Thank you for covering this. Dark City is one of those movies I always find myself coming back to every once in a while. There's just something special about these 1990s movies (e.g. Se7en, Fight Club, The Matrix, Heat, The Usual Suspects), and I notice how many of them have aged way better than stuff produced years later. It was a point where filmmakers seemed to have found the perfect balance between style, character development and an interesting plot, and special effects were done just right, with a nice balance between practical effects and CGI.
Damn, that's a helluva line up right there. The only one I haven't seen is The Usual Suspects. All my friends tell me it's a must see and right up my alley. I think our society as a whole peaked in the 90's.
I could not agree with both of you more.
I would even throw Blade in there - yes, I know it's an absurd comic book action movie about vampires, but my point is even a daft movie like _that_ exhibited the qualities you listed in the 90s, before everything went down hill.
I managed to convince a friend of mine to teach this movie as part of his science fiction literature course. It's an absolute benchmark of storytelling against which other movies and stories should be compared. Also, two words: Director's Cut (eliminates the opening narration and adds a little more that enhances the movie.)
I still love how the crazed detective was the former lead actor of the Australian cop drama, Water Rats. Colin Friels made a great Walenski.
Still feel Dark City is the superior film against The Matrix. Kinda glad we only ever got one film, too, 'cause look how it turned out for the latter.
Good thing it bombed at the box office. This gem must never get a sequel
@Simulation algorithm damn...
@Simulation algorithm F***
Friels was also in the excellent film Malcolm.
@Simulation algorithm I was hoping you were trolling, but nope... just saw this on ScreenRant, _"The Crow director Alex Proyas reveals that he is in the "very early stages" of preparing a TV series adaptation of his 1998 film Dark City."_
God I'm always glad to see this one covered. It remains one of the best underrated cult movies ever.
The soundtrack is absolutely BANGING, too.
One of the best movies of its time. I remember being bored and had walked pass the little cinema several times and being curious about it. finally asking the lady at the ticket widow weather it was any good and she beamed with big smile and said Onyah! seen it a dozen times already and I never get tired of it so I bought a ticket. I remember when I came out of the theater looking around waiting for the building to start changing and saying to the ticket lady everything is going to different now. just in the same way when you see other life changing movies. you start asking questions and not quite trusting things around you anymore, well we know all about that these days, HUH! it was sort the same after I read Gorge Orwell's 1984 except this was a cool fantasy sci fi and 1984 was prophecy.
I'm glad you finally covered this movie. It's one of my top 10. I've seen it a few dozen times. I remember seeing it in the theater and was blown away. The Director's Cut Blu-ray includes a lot of commentaries. I've listened to Roger Ebert's and it's very good.
NOTEWORTHY: Roger Ebert felt so strongly about championing this underappreciated film that he did a commentary for the disc release.
One of the best commentary tracks ever put on disc. Really adds to the appreciation of this movie. (EDIT - I initially brain farted and put "Gene Siskel" - corrected)-
Roger Ebert, not Gene Siskel. He also used the movie for university lectures about the Great Movies at the University of Illinois
That was Roger Ebert. He also named it the best film of the year.
@@humankirk9196 Of course! (Brain fart) corrected. Thanks!
@@scottmcfadyen293 Of course! (Brain fart) corrected. Thanks!
Yes this audio commentary is a mini film school and then some! You can learn more from RE’s commentary about directorial perspective on the disc than you will in a year in school IMO. I listened to it twice in a row once. Glad you brought it up!
I absolutely love this movie. I loved seeing it when it came out. It's such a shame it wasn't appreciated before. Director's Cut is so good
Can we all just take a moment and admire that this is a movie about mind erasing aliens with a film noir setting, packed with sex, mystery and an interesting protagonist
Why would we need to take a moment to admire that? That’s a weird thing to say
Great spoiler, asshole.
@@sultanjelle9168 Sounds like something a mind erasing alien would say.
@@OpusBuddly ummm...critical drinker says basically the same thing in the video. Not spoiling anything if you watch the video you commented on.
@@OpusBuddly spoiler for a 13 year old movie?
WOW. I had just decided to watch it tonight to see if it was as good as I remember. And u upload this video.
And I didn't remember it because of the new Matrix. I remembered because I watched an OG noir film called "The third man".
Was that the film based on the Graham Greene novel? An oldie but goodie. Read the novel!
There is a cinema in Vienna that has The Third Man on permanent rotation.
@Simulation algorithm I took a Graham Greene seminar in graduate school many years ago (from Dr. Peter Wolfe, who is still, I think, recognized as a foremost Greene scholar) and read most of his novels and "entertainments.". Greene was really good.
@@humankirk9196 Wow!
@Subpar JennaTalia Third Man was an Orson Welles movie shot on location in Vienna just after WW2. They couldn't remake that movie even if they tried, it's a time capsule
I loved Dark City. Such a dark sci-fi mystery. Beautiful.
This is a good one. Memorability is on of the key measures of movie quality. I haven't seen it in ages, but I remember it clearly and still quote little bits of it in conversation sometimes.
Alpha Centauri!!! That game raised me, cheers mate.
This is one of my favorite movies, but for GOD'S SAKE make sure to get the director's cut. The theatrical release spoils the whole thing with some unnecessary, opening exposition that doesn't add anything and assumes you're too dumb to understand what's going on.
Another reminder why I miss the 20th Century. ..and how I love talking about films and how awesome movie experience was. Bravo Dirnker 🍻.
I loved Dark City when it came out. Another interesting film from the same time and in the same vein as this and the Matrix is The Thirteenth Floor. Maybe that would make for another good After Hours review.
Yes. The Thirteenth Floor was very interesting indeed. But Matrix got all the glory despite other films had the same concept.
This movie is truely epic. I can't say how many times I've watched it.
In the original cut, they dubbed over Jennifer Connely's voice in her singing scenes. In the Directors Cut, they used her voice... That girl can sing!
Before the Matrix, there was this movie.
Also I love how Trevor Jones managed to recycle his score in Merlin for this movie.
There was a movie called 'Split' that came out in 1989 (unrelated to the 2016 movie of the same name) that dealt with that whole "reality is fake" concept.
@@judsongaiden9878 That sounds familiar. I'll check it out sometime.
Also "The 13th Floor" is a good one in this field
matrix actually bought a bunch of dark city's sets! the director's cut doesn't have the opening narration. regards
I rewatched this a couple years ago. What a hidden gem.
𝕊𝕙𝕦𝕥 𝕚𝕥 𝕕𝕠𝕨𝕟! 𝕊𝕙𝕦𝕥 𝕚𝕥 𝕕𝕠𝕨𝕟 𝔽𝕆ℝ𝔼𝕍𝔼ℝ!
Love me some Dark City, but it seems lost on a lot of people.
I remember reading a Negative film Review for The Matrix when it came out and I remember 1 line that stood out and I still remember it to this day "........All it is is 'Dark City' with Martial Arts. And Dark City is a much better Movie"
I haven't seen it since High School but I remember it being pretty good. Might need to give it a rewatch
So The Matrix is Dark City + Cobra Kai? That would explain how Johnny "cures" Miguel's asthma and helps Aisha lose weight. Jokes aside Dark City's the film I own on DVD, not The Matrix.
Please review UDAAN 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 it's my top 5 all time greatest movie...it's a movie about father and son complications
This film got absolutely trashed by the critics who often called it a "confused mess" or "unintelligible" and I remember thinking at the time that if such an awesome movie with a not too intricate plot could completely go over the heads of critics and audience alike, then maybe intelligent sci fi plots would always be doomed. Thankfully things have changed somewhat since then, but this film was truly revolutionary and ahead of its time. It was one of the first DVDs I ever bothered to own (HD with 2 sides to fit the whole movie on!) and I reckon I wore it out. Exceptional film!
yeah every critic that said that I just thought were stupid people I mean actually unintelligent like small children or a dog...well maybe not even a dog
Roger Ebert named it the best movie of the year.
@Neon Thunderbird Roger Ebert lost a few points when he condemned John Carpenter's "The Thing", though. Good, but not the greatest. He had his off days. I can relate better to the Drinker.
@@vilefly he watched *everything*, in every genre, reviewed them honestly, and never read off a script. Only one who comes close to him is Leonard Maltin. Was the only reviewer I'd read before going to the cinema. Rotten Tomatoes doing these things algorithmically is nonsense as most reviewers that RT base their score upon are untrustworthy
@@vilefly Honestly, I don't think he was wrong about "The Thing". I liked it, but consider it very good, not great
I caught this one from a library rental years ago, and was SHOCKED by how captivating it was.
It's NOT neo-noir. It's PURE noir. All action takes place at night. Check. Undercurrents of betrayal and mystery. Check. Plot like an onion where the layers are slowly peeled off. Check. Pure noir.
Superb movie. A great follow from Alex Proyas to The Crow. Used the same set as The Matrix, I believe. Sets shot on film just look better than greenscreen shot on digital
I love the effects that can be done with greenscreens and CGI, but like any other toy Hollywood gets its grubby mitts on, it doesn't know when it's too much.
What I love the most about Dark City is it has no Diversity. It's just a great, original, sci-fi horror with no tokens.
Whatcha talking about no diversity?
It has hottie brunette Jennifer Connely and hottie blondie Melissa George.
THAT there is some relevant diversity!
Damn I loved this when I first saw it. Still one of the best SciFi mystery movies ever made!
This one of the best science fiction movie ever made.
Best.
Apparently the opening monologue was removed and some added scenes included with the directors cut.
Dark City & The Matrix actually used a few cityscape sets. That didn't help distinguishing it. But it's a fantastic movie.
If you watch the theatrical version, mute the audio until you first see the syringe. Then unmute and buckle up. The director's cut is superior though.
As much as I love this movie, even I forgot about it 😞. It was eclipsed by the matrix and my late teens/early 20 self was "blinded" by the early internet, Virtual reality and video games emergence of the 90's. Now, I actualy prefer Dark City. Maybe it's the Classy Look of the gorgeous Jennifer Conolly and the "ageless" atmosphere of the movie compared to the very dated 90's feel and aesthetics of the Matrix, from the music, the "grundge" look of the "real world" and the Leather and trenchecoat wardrobe to the beautiful, latex clad, Carry Ann Moss.
I think Dark City, like a beautiful woman, demands appreciation. 😉
ua-cam.com/video/UxWnQBbIDgQ/v-deo.html
Mr. Hand was amazing! He seemed to have a touch more individuality than the other strangers, and really suffered with his desires. In the director's cut he more or less explains his pain to Emma Murdoch by the water. Kind of an outlier of his species, even capable of sudden, brief periods of rage. Absolutely desperate to experience "a soul" as he misunderstood it, he was more than willing to risk his life for it with his proposal to be imprinted under the false pretense of just catching Murdoch.
Dark City doesn't get enough attention. A mate of mine called the Matrix when we came out of the cinema, "Dark City Lite" 😂
Fun fact the editor’s cut version doesn’t have an opening narration. Apparently the executives thought the whole story would make people’s brains hurt thus the narration, this kind of off beat dumbing down or is not uncommon especially for movies aired on television. It works for most , but not for movies like blade runner (out of place unicorn dream scene), dark city(exposition dump via opening narration) and other countless films.
I'm so glad you have done this one Drinker!! I saw it back in 98 at the cinema - it was awesome!! Greetings from Australia 😁.
ps ---> we could do with alot more movies these days that stray away from "The Message", as I'm rather over having that particular agenda rammed down my throat any time I choose a movie to watch. 🙄
Thanks for talking about this underrated gem of a movie, Drinker! I plan to watch it again.
A film well ahead of its time. Absolute classic.
Allways had a soft spot for this this one since seeing it on VCR back in the day. And not just because of Jennifer Connely.
But also because of Jennifer Connely.
I have always loved Dark City. It’s about as underrated as any film.
I remember renting this on VHS when it was first released for home video, and I enjoyed it. I don't think I've watched it again since so I guess I'll do so soon.
I love the part where John asks the detective "When was the last time you saw the sun?"
on his pc desktop
And not in some far, distant memory.
Loved Dark City. Especially Melissa George! Jenny in her prime too !
Dark City is one of my favorite movies.
One of the last great movies I went to see at the cinema. It definitely left a lasting impression. Sort of like Brazil.
Weird movie and liked it but have seen better. But just looking at Jennifer Connolly in her prime was definitely worth it.
Loved this movie. Been kind of buried by time, and somehow I always forget about it. Gonna have to watch it again!
This always felt a bit too bombastic and derivative to me. A nice Twilight Zone episode that punches above its weight with some great visuals, worth a watch for a genre fan but not much more.
Out of curiosity, if the matrix only came out a year later, wouldn't the story for matrix have been written by the point this film came out?
Yea but they filmed at the same studio back to back, I don't know how many of the same people were involved in both, anyway if dark city started filming earlier matrix could have been playing catch up with the same people in the same studio. Who knows,
But it was already written by 1995, you know how studios can get their hands on scripts, just look at B5 vs DS9
@@jhnshep I know very little about film development, so was more of a question of is that possible/valid more than disagreeing with what was said in the video
You gotta watch the director's cut to avoid the opening monologue spoiler. 100% studio decision there.
Dude this is one of my favorite👍 “Remember… John” that scene give a me the ultimate goosebumps. Such a great unexpected hero movie. Love it!!
Both DARK CITY and the MATRIX are based on PLATO's Allegory of the Cave.
finally the good Matrix film
I hate that when I try and describe this movie to people they go "Oh you mean the Adjustment Bureau?"
One of my favourites!
Especially the casting, premise, design, and plot!
So glad to see this one pop up. This has been a long standing favorite of mine and it’s severely under appreciated.
When this came out I recorded it off Cinemax onto a VHS, and watched it repeatedly until the tape wore out.
One of my favorite movies. If they release a 4K Blu-ray release of the Director's cut, I would buy in a heartbeat!
Dark City is an absolute hidden gem. Till this day I highly recommend it. The last battle even looks great without looking totally dated and was quite awesome. Amazing movie.
3:55 Yes, watch the director's cut if you can. The studio decided the audience was too stupid and put that spoiler narration in the theatrical release.
when i rewatched that movie with my sister few years ago, not even half hour in and she was already confused wtf is going on so...
Studio was kinda right.
@@MrDeothor Movie plots are not meant to be fully understood end to end from the beginning, Imagine Shyamalan movies being spoiled at their beginning because "people could be confused". It's normal to be confused at the beginning of Dark City, it's intended.
I wish I could see Dark City on a big screen. It's an underrated masterpiece that combines deep philosophy with stunning visuals.
Oh this is a classic, glad to see it getting some appreciation.
Thank you Drinker, this is truly one of my favorite movie, such an underrated gem!
This is one of those all time greats That for whatever reason just gets no kind of proper release. This The Cabin In the Woods, Idiocracy. Just a crime that they didn't get a decent release. An absolute gem. I recent got the Director's cut on Amazon Prime, And it somehow manages to be better than the original cut. Plus it fixes that whole narrative bit you mentioned in the beginning.
Time to go away and visit Shell Beach. See you there, Drinker
Drinker, this is a criminally underrated movie. Very creepy atmosphere and setting. It reminds me that every once in a while a film comes out that doesn't follow the template set out by the huge conglomerates but blazes its own path and becomes something special. Great choice sir!!