A Scanner Darkly

Yesterday I managed to sit down and watch Richard Linklater's inspiring 2006 film, A Scanner Darkly for the first time and it did not disappoint. As an animation fan I naturally bought into the rotoscoping format. The unique style reminds us that there are still some visual effects that only 2D animation can achieve. The film was not just visually impressive though, I really enjoyed the suspense, the humour and the inventiveness within the narrative. The performances from each of the cast members added depth and believability to the characters they portrayed. I particularly enjoyed Robert Downey Jr's character, easily the funniest performance in the film. The film ends on a rather chilling note which moved me immensely. I don't usually buy DVDs, but I reckon this is a must have for animation fans so I'm sure pretty soon I will have myself a copy.

Andrew