17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Visioneers is Cinematic Equivalent of Comfort Food, June 30, 2009
Brandon and Jared Drake's independently produced comedy is an exceptional first feature effort as a writer/director team. Earlier reviews have connected the film's themes and settings to some known dystopian society stories, like Orwell's 1984, Gilliam's BRAZIL, and even Mike Judge's more recent IDIOCRACY; however, I believe VISIONEERS stands very well on its own and is best viewed with all comparisons minimized or even set aside completely. This is an accessible dark comedy comprised of equal parts corporate satire with genuine warmth and sweetness.
As an actual distressed lower-level employee in an increasingly grim society, and as an admirer of the more personal stories often told by the independents, I think VISIONEERS is a highly satisfying and worthwhile experience. I would definitely recommend this film to fans of Zach Galifianakis and to those who are looking for something a little different.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Brazil: De-Gilliam-ized, November 23, 2011
Well, I won't go so far as to say that George Washington Winsterhammerman is the 21st century Sam Lowry. But I loved the understated insanity spiked with corporate nothingisms and friendly Jeffers logo salutes. Imagine Wes Anderson reworking
Equilibrium. The wheels do come off the wagon a bit at the end. Seemed like someone realized they only had 10 more minutes left and started gluing together sweepings from the editing room floor. If you're looking for the Will Farrell style over-the-top silliness, this may not be your best choice. But I thought this was perfectly weird and charming.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
"I've Been Dead Long Enough" ~ Productivity, Happiness And Explosion Free Living, January 21, 2011
The 2010 low budget indie film `Visioneer' starring Zach Galifianakis presents the audience with a vision of a possible dark, authoritarian future. Be prepared for a powerful, clear and disturbingly accurate vision of a world without self awareness and purpose.
Synopsis: This is dark comedy at its depressing best, or at least that's how it begins and maintains through most of the movie. Yes this is truly a future world without any reason to exist. In the future scheme of things only productivity is valued, individual pursuit of excellence, friendship, love and anything else worthwhile you may think of no longer holds any meaning. We have become rats in a maze and nothing more. The loss of meaning, the understated confusion and the thinly guised desperation simple exudes from the screen. Laid out before us is a society in utter pain and that pain is exquisitely displayed on the face of the film's star, Zach Galifianakis. He is a man about to explode, literally, which is what people do when they can no longer stand living in a world with no meaning. Our hero has reached the point of critical mass and realizes that he must either break free and discover personal happiness or explode. It isn't easy in a society that has all but lost the ability to look outside the box and act independently but he must try or die.
Critique: `Visioneer' is quite a unique movie and definitely not something for anyone in search of a light hearted, unchallenging viewing experience. This film has an uncanny ability to push a lot of emotional buttons most viewers would not want to be pushed. The heavy emotional angst dealt with in the film will slowly but surely begin to be felt by the audience and trigger a personal reaction to the storyline. Not only will you begin to question whether or not you're really happy, you'll begin to examine to what extent your own personal limitations prevent you from changing things for the better. Maybe I'm giving the film way too much credit, but it certainly elicited some strong responses from me.
Despite what I've already said about the almost tangible angst emoted by the film and my strong emotional reaction to it I must also admit that 'Visioneer' has some discernible flaws; it pace is much too slow for most peoples taste and is a bit uneven at times. I was also somewhat disappointed by the ending. It much too upbeat, one of those happily ever after scenarios that just didn't fit with the overall message of the rest of the film.
It's definitely not for everyone but well worth a watch if you're so inclined.
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