Impostor (2001)

If you like impressive-looking sci-fi with lots of running around, you might like this. On the other hand, if you like thoughtful, intelligent science fiction, you can safely give this one a pass. With a talented cast, good budget, and a terrific premise by Phil Dick (who also inspired the brilliant Blade Runner and Total Recall), this should have been a fine movie. I don't know whether to blame the director, the writer (adapter), or both. (Each has done things I've liked in the past.) There are lots of troublesome inconsistencies, but I want to keep spoilers to a minimum. I can suspend disbelief and I think I have a fair tolerance for implausible heroics and holes in plots. But in science fiction or in fantasy, realism by default must be grounded in the characters, and I couldn't make myself believe the two leads—one a supposedly brainy weapons scientist, the other a top intelligence official—could possibly be so much stupider than the viewing audience. Neither seems capable of self-reflection or insight into the motives of anyone else. An interrogation scene near the beginning of the movie is a brain-numbing disaster. Vincent D'Onofrio's bullet-headed intelligence officer is portrayed as impervious to critical thought and mindlessly cruel. If he believes the circumstances are as he says slightly later in the film, it's senseless for him to act and talk as he does during the interrogation. (Also, didn't anyone ever teach him about the concept of "misinformation"?) Meanwhile, Gary Sinise's rocket scientist, instead of trying to persuade onlookers by asking obvious logical questions, adopts an initial strategy for escape makes no sense whatsoever (and has no obvious point). Mekhi Phifer, good as always, plays the only role that seems remotely plausible. The film director does achieve the small miracle of making a character played by Madeleine Stowe uninteresting, but at least she is given the chance to ask, halfway through the film, the question every character should have been asking from the beginning: "How can you be sure?" That is the central theme of Dick's message, although it's message few of the characters in this film could have understood.

Wow! I hadn't seen this film for many years; I remember that I did like it very much, but I didn't really remember many details from it.Let me say it again... WOW! Sure, being 2001 with some of the CG being a little dodgy and not knowing exactly what the budget was at the time, I still thought it looked like a billion dollars! Many other reviewers have also stated this. With Sci Fi, I am REALLY big on set design (anything from the silent era German Expressionism to slick, or not so slick Futurescapes) An EXCELLENT example is 1956's 'FORBIDDEN PLANET' - Truly amazing... especially for 1956; the head of the studio was out of the country at the time, so the director who happened to be an art designer went wild with the set design (and with the innovative and unique soundtrack too) And, WOW! did this one look good too! The city design and the many areas they had to go through, including both the more polished city areas and also the grungy desolated areas, ALL of it was pretty dang impressive to me.The story although fairly simple, is very well done. I think the largest share of the credit should go to the director for how nicely he put this film together. To me anyway, this is the kind of Science Fiction film where after you finish it, you REALLY are hoping that the ones who made it would come up with many more like it. Gary Sinise is Gary Sinise, like he always is. The acting overall was decent.And, as I state in my Summary, the Blu-ray is frigg'n FANTASTIC looking! Not bad for a film made nearly 15 years ago.Highly recommended for those who enjoy serious Science Fiction (this is not what I would call 'Heavy', but definitely 'Serious') and also for those who appreciate beautiful looking Science Ficiton films with a gripping and entertaining story.

Impostor is one of the lesser known stories by the master of Science Fiction, Philip K. Dick. It is so unknown, that one of his biggest fans, didn't even realize that this film was based on a story by Dick, until I saw it in the credits. As usual, the story is out of this world, as it takes place in the distance future, a future where the Earth is at war with an alien species. This species has the ability to clone humans in such a realistic way, that it is nearly impossible to detect them. Special military investigator, Hathaway (Vincent D'Onofrio), is tasked with figuring out who has been replaced. On the eve of a big announcement by the President, Hathaway intercepts a transmission claiming that her top military adviser, Dr. Spencer Olham (Gary Sinise), has been replaced. When Hathaway confronts Olham, he claims to have no knowledge of this, and unlike previous replicates, he has memories. As Hathaway prepares to eliminate Olham, he escapes to the surface, where he teams up with the exiled citizens who live there. Together they try to prove Olham's innocence, while avoiding being captured by Hathaway. Vincent D'Onofrio stars as Hathaway, and much like his role in Law & Order: Criminal Intent his intensity and determination are infectious. He's paired with Gary Sinise, an actor I'm always disappointed to see in a leading role, and whom always manages to surprise me with a great performance. He isn't what I'd call an action star, and may not have been ideal for the role of Olham, but he was very believable. Impostor was only one of Dick's short stories, but it is every bit as good as his better known works, which of course include; Blade Runner, Total Recall, and Minority Report. If you want to see a unique story that blends Science Fiction, Drama, and Action, look no further than Impostor.

Seriously, this is terrific Sci-Fi and oh what an ending. Superb.Considering the budget, I felt this movie was fantastic. The actors all perform really well and without a doubt the Philip K Dick in this movie shines through, ever so true to his vision.A movie I will want to watch again with friends who haven't seen it.Sadly this movie fell under the radar, which is a shame as it's 3 times the movie that say Paycheck was.Well worth watching.Terrific twists and it really drew you into the story and the universe.Recommended even if you only see it the once. If your a Philip K Dick fan, your going to really enjoy this movie.