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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A great little Indie flick, April 28, 2004
This review is from: Dopamine (DVD)
My adult son had the opportunity to go to Sundance, where he saw this film; he came home raving about it, so I was glad to finally be able to rent it on DVD. It's weirdly quirky in its attempt to ask the film's central question: What is love? Is it spiritual or hormonal, metaphysical or chemical? Here's the deal: There are these 3 guys who have spent what, like 3 years? working to create an interactive computer pet, a bird named Koi-Koi (at least, that's how I'd spell it), who will respond appropriately to voiced emotion-laden conversation. They take it into a classroom of pre-schoolers to test it out, and Rand, one of the computer guys, falls in love (but there again, What is love?) with the teacher. Both of them are struggling with major loss of significant other people in their lives. The settings in San Francisco, the hills, the distant vistas, the bike rides thru the Presidio and the views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Angel and Alcatraz Islands...they all lend authentic sense of place, and speaking as one from Oakland, the `other' Bay Area town, I appreciate that accuracy. Nice little film. Not great, but very, very nice.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A FILM WELL WORTH SEEING!!1, April 4, 2005
This review is from: Dopamine (DVD)
First of all, in support of a previous reviwer, this film is not about dopamine. I think the film "Titanic" may have caused some confusion because it is about a titanic boat which is also called the "Titanic." The current Fox TV series "House" is not about a house so the reviewer may want to avoid that as well. If I hear that any of the big drug companies plan to market dopamine, I will let him know.
This film left me exhausted in a good way. Much like the type of exhaustion of a good workout. I found a deepening empathy for both characters as the film went on. The performances by Lloyd and Livingston communicated a vulnerablity and honesty to the characters of Sara and Rand that made me care about what happened to them. Sabrina Lloyd's eyes alone are reason enough to see this film, they communicate 100 pages worth of dialogue. These are human beings (I won't use the word flawed to avoid being redundant) that most of us, with even a small amount of self awareness, too whom we can relate, damaged but still willing to go forward with their lives.
There are a couple of awkward scenes toward the end of the film that were a stretch. This movie has its heart in the right place however, and I can accept the end's symbolism. Its more important how Sara and Rand get to that point. The film is more prone to start discussions than to end debates.
The Dylan reference at the end kind of suckered me in anyway, even though it came across a bit forced. Much like Dylan's music there are layers that reward repeated viewing. In a just world people would line up at the cineplex to see films like this, and we'd all be kinder and smarter as a result.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Elegant neuromance, February 13, 2005
This review is from: Dopamine (DVD)
A virtually perfect movie, in multiple ways. "Dopamine" delicately weaves its themes of love, intimacy, and fear of loss. All its characters are engaging and nuanced, in their various attempts to grapple with the risks of closeness--including Koy Koy, the virtual creature who flits seamlessly around and through the human drama; the digital character never intrudes in a contrived way, and stays totally believable as software development while being very endearing . Decena has a deft touch and subtle wit, never giving in to sentimentality but showing much compassion. The acting and faces are fresh, real and very Gen-Y SF. This isn't simply about a neurochemically obsessed guy, it's about a bunch of brittle, defended people trying to transcend their isolation. Watch for the fleeting synaptic "flashes" as surprisingly effective, novel exclamation points.
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