Reflecting on 30 Years of Cyber-Themed Cinema
It’s hard to believe it’s been thirty years since Hollywood was diving deep into the realm of cyber. Movies like Johnny Mnemonic, net, hacker, A Strange Day, and A Stunning Technique came and went, but now it feels like we’re looking back on a particular moment in film history. Maybe “celebration” isn’t quite the right word. After all, among these, only net really made a significant impact. Hacker became somewhat of a cult classic on VHS, while A Strange Day slowly gained recognition as a notable work from director Kathryn Bigelow. A Stunning Technique, on the other hand, hasn’t exactly garnered a devoted following, though the presence of young Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe from back then might spark some interest.
But did we really enjoy it? I mean, this hectic period of police thrillers, often mixing futuristic elements, feels like a product of its time. In A Stunning Technique, Denzel plays Parker Burns, a former cop in a slightly futuristic Los Angeles — it’s got a vibe that maybe echoes Predator 2 to some extent. He’s dealing with the guilt of having unintentionally killed two reporters while on a revenge mission for his family’s murder. There’s this little twist, too: he’s got a metal arm from the incident, although, curiously, it feels less significant as the film unfolds. He ends up testing out a virtual reality training system, where he faces off against a rather cartoonish villain, Sid, played by a younger, over-the-top Russell Crowe. Inevitably, Sid breaks free from the digital confines, leading to a chaotic rampage, and Parker is offered a pardon in exchange for stopping him. Will Sid’s programming tap into the madness that cost Parker so much?
In many ways, this premise gives rise to a classic Badass Cop scenario, tackling the digital chaos around him with a mix of satire and a libertarian twist. The film doesn’t shy away from the grim realities of loss—a dead wife, a child in danger during the climax, and a slew of violent acts carried out by Sid. Yet, it somehow doesn’t quite deliver a conventional action-packed experience, with fewer chase scenes or epic battles than you might expect.
What’s interesting is that the film doesn’t take itself too seriously. Crowe graces us with colorful outfits, almost reveling in his role as a villain. There’s a playful absurdity to his character, especially with lines and references that feel borrowed from the era, like a nod to Saturday Night Fever. As he carves out his image in the real world, we can’t help but notice how SID, being this interactive AI, seeks attention and engagement, almost like a modern-day gamer looking for their next challenge.
Charlie Kaufman once noted how thrillers keep replaying the same themes—a sort of relentless cycle of negative feedback dominating the internet. Bad actors thrive on those dopamine rushes. So here we are, watching these stories unfold, yet they barely scratch the surface of AI’s potential, focusing instead on the glitzy world of virtual reality.
Director Brett Leonard, known for his work in virtual reality narratives back in the day—Lawn Mower Man set the tone years prior—it seems like he recycled some of his earlier ideas in this film. The visuals feel dated, with simplistic effects contrasting sharply with the polished worlds we see today. Early scenes resembling a glitchy reality don’t quite match the level of detail we now expect, making them feel cheap by today’s standards.
Ultimately, A Stunning Technique may not hold a candle to classics like The Matrix or even its own precursors. While it features standout performances from Washington and Crowe, the broader implications of AI still feel brushed over. It’s almost as if science fiction is continuously wrestling with how to effectively portray technology. In the current landscape, advanced digital experiences and AI are more accessible than ever, yet the genre hasn’t moved beyond simplistic portrayals.
It’s quite interesting how, even now, we find ourselves making similar storytelling mistakes. We chase trends without really understanding the deeper implications, in both film and life.
