Delightfully different
wynalter | Cleveland, OH USA | 12/21/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I enjoyed this film thoroughly, but I'm afraid it will suffer unnecessary criticism from a lot of viewers disappointed to find no actual erotica in it anywhere. Instead, it takes a relaxed, funny view of virtual sex, which happens entirely off-camera. What endeared the film to me was the truly original female sensibility of it all. There are no "bad guys" in this story; every character is likeable. There are no long, boring adolescent male videogame cyberbattles. The tension is not caused by a conflict of wills or an effort by anyone to get the better of anyone else; instead, it centers on the struggles of the characters, both human and virtual, to understand and connect with each other. As I said -- it's a female sensibility. And as far as I know, that's never been done in this genre before. Kudos to Leeson; it's time women started envisioning the potentialities of virtual reality at last. (Oh yeah, and I couldn't take my EYES off Tilda Swinton. What a great face!)"
Stunning
lady detective | east coat | 02/12/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"i was hardly expecting this film to be beautiful; i thought it would be weird & that's about it.it was weird- but it was so amazing. tilda swinton is compelling and ultimately lovely as the four characters she embodies. the story of a lonely scientist who clones herself into 3 different selves: half human/half computer-is so deliciously odd- and bordering on a creepy reality. but, there was nothing creepy about this film, & with such a strong message of love & sweetness carried out through the ending... i dare anyone not to be delighted.highly recommended!"
Colorful, but enigmatic.
wiredweird | Earth, or somewhere nearby | 08/08/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This has everything I like about Tilda Swinton's best movies, plus some of what I dislike about her lesser works. Dislikes include low-budget effects and cryptic finales, but maybe that's part of the charm of these movies.
The good, of course, comes from Swinton. She plays a geek girl (Rosetta Stone), but plays the role with respect. She's shy, especially shy around men, and fiercely intelligent. Swinton also plays Stone's three clones: Ruby, Olive, and Marinne. It's a bit ham-handed, but the four roles are distinguished by very different wigs, and the clones by color coding: red, green, and ultramarine. Swinton's real achievement is in her physical presence[s] - the body language of each character is distinctly the character's own. Rosetta is especially good in her my-gawd-i'm-a-mother moments, painfully but realistically unsure, and over cautious as a result.
The plot device is a bit odd: almost vampiric in an AIDS-era kind of way, but with a computer-y angle and a gentle resolution in the end. Rosetta and Ruby each find romantic resolutions of their own. Olive and Marinne seem to find each other - and something more. "As easy as baking brownies." The end is enigmatic, but good enough, and leaves a few questions open.
It's a good indy movie. That means it's not for everyone, but I came away happy.
//wiredweird"
After conceiving ADA
Richard Larratt | Tarpon Springs, FL, United States | 09/21/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"There was Teknolust and if the roll continues someday there will be a big budget sort of "fight club" for the ladies - till then - and oh yeah - it is porn but of a most thinking sort - the disclaimers of other viewers notwithstanding. It is a 5/5 when you understand it was done on a nickel - very little edit or post production - but genius - raw - you bettcha."