2047: Virtual Revolution, 2017.
Directed by Guy-Roger Duvert.
Starring Mike Dopud, Jane Badler, Maximilien Poullein, and Kaya Blocksage.
SYNOPSIS:
Paris 2047. Most of the population spend all their time online, connected into virtual worlds, and don’t care anymore about reality. A shadow agent, Nash, working for one of the multinational companies behind these virtual worlds, is tracking down terrorists who threaten the system…
2047: Virtual Revolution – the feature length directorial debut of Guy-Roger Duvert – borrows heavily from numerous sci-fi films most notably Blade Runner, Ready Player One and 2009’s Bruce Willis actioner Surrogates. Set in Paris in 2047, most people spend their time connected into virtual worlds and don’t spend any time in reality. Our protagonist is Nash (Dopud) a recently widowed agent working for one of the gaming companies and on the trail of a group of terrorists who are trying to shutdown the virtual world.
There are no points for originality in Duvert’s screenplay – the city scape looks like a discount version of the opening shot of Blade Runner – but Virtual Revolution does pose a fundamental and intriguing question: what defines freedom? Is freedom being out in the real world or is it living in a virtual reality? Duvert also offers a social commentary about how a government benefits from a nation hooked into VR and what the power it grants them and the money it saves. It’s these type of questions that elevate Virtual Revolution away from a generic knock off.
As a first time director, Duvert is confident in his camerawork and he leaves the student cliches at home. The direction is solid and during the action sequences he doesn’t rely on death by editing to hammer his point home. The cinematography from Cyril Bron is a highlight and he utilises the Paris architecture expertly and it’s in the CGI free moments that the film sings.
As a leading man Mike Dopud as Agent Nash is perfectly serviceable; his performance isn’t going to win any awards but he’s perfectly ok in the role. His voice suits the hard knuckled tough guy that he’s going for and his voice is almost reminiscent of Kiefer Sutherland at times. Maximilien Poullein as hacker Morel is the most interesting performance and brings some much needed charisma and levity to the film. The rest of the cast are fine but are a touch wooden at times.
Virtual Revolution is well paced and raises a lot of interesting questions. As a feature length debut for Duvert it shows a lot of promise and although it borrows heavily from other sci-fi films, his style has its own identity.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★/ Movie: ★ ★
Helen Murdoch
