Virtuosity on PAL Laserdisc

• Cat.no: PLFEB 34471
• Cert: 15
• Running time: 102 minutes
• Sides: 2 (CLV)
• Year: 1995
• Pressing: UK, 1996
• Chapters: 20 (11/9)
• Sound: Dolby Surround
• Widescreen: 2.35:1 (Super-35)
• Price: £24.99
• Extras : None
  

  ---

  Director:

  Brett Leonard

  (The Lawnmower Man, Hideaway)

Producer:

Screenplay:

Music:

Cast:

Parker Barnes : Denzel Washington (Courage Under Fire, Ricochet, Devil In A Blue Dress)
Madison Carter: Kelly Lynch (Heaven’s Prisoners, Roadhouse, Three of Hearts)
Sid 6.7 : Russell Crowe (Romper Stomper, Proof, The Quick and The Dead)
Lindenmeyer : Stephen Spinella
William Cochran : William Forsythe (The Rock, Raising Arizona, Things To Do In Denver When You’re Dead)
Elizabeth Deane : Louise Fletcher (One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, High School High, Firestarter)
Media Zone Singer : Traci Lords (Stephen King’s The Tommyknockers)

Virtuositystars Denzel Washington as Parker Barnes, a cop jailedfor murder at a time when he took the law into his own hands. While inside,he’s the best at playing a computer simulation of a hostage situation wherethe bad guy, Sid 6.7, is a composite of the personalities of around 200murderers including Matthew Grimes, the man who killed Parker’s wife anddaughter.

In this present, Virtual Reality has progressed to a level such thatcomputer-generated creations can be brought into the real world, and so withan evil businessman taking his opportunity to bring Sid 6.7 into the world,instead of his friend’s intended Sheila 3.2, so the scene is set for chaos.

Parker has been given the chance of freedom from his long jail sentence, butonly if he can bring Sid 6.7 to justice – something that won’t prove easyas any attempt to harm him results in him being able to regenerate hissilicon-based body parts.

Oscar-winning acting is certainly not the order of the day here as Denzel’sParker Barnes character appears to be a future-set version of his Nick Stylescharacter in 1991’s Ricochet; Russell Crowe throws away hisacting talent in favour of playing an over-the-top violent psycho, andKelly Lynch plays the token bimbo-cum-psychologist who follows Parkerabout in his pursuit.

The cast is rounded out with the mean and moody William Forsythe, whoI last saw in The Rock, anothergood-guy-jailed-for-life-but-given-a-pardon-if-he-gets-the-bad-guy-because-he’s-the-only-one-who-can film,and Louise Fletcher, most famous for her roleas Nurse Ratched in 1975’s One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, but nowspends her time in small roles in films like this and High School High.

On the plus side, for those who like their films futuristic and littered withnumerous visual effects, this certainly doesn’t disappoint, as TheLawnmower Man‘s Brett Leonard keeps the pace moving, the visuals colourful,and throws a number of one-liners in for Crowe as he goes about his insanebusiness.

Picture quality is excellent, the sharp, crisp image bringing the colourfulfuturistic setting to life. Sound quality also does not disappoint as thedirector throws in a loud bullet-fest from time to time to give your speakersa workout. Chaptering is adequate with an average of one every five minutes.

Overall, the film won’t win any major awards, but if Hollywood action/sci-fino-brainer’s are your bag – and if you choose this title – then rest assured thatPioneer have tracked down an excellent widescreen master for this film.

Film: 2/5
Picture: 5/5
Sound: 5/5

Review copyright © Dominic Robinson, 1997.