Self/Less

The old sci-fi question about whether immortality is possible (or even desirable) is once again raised again in Tarsem Singh's Self/Less, starring Ben Kingsley as Damian, a real estate tycoon whose literally gold-encrusted penthouse can't save him from the ravages of terminal cancer, or win him reconciliation with his estranged daughter (Michelle Dockery). Through a shadowy outfit headed by a smooth-talking scientist (Matthew Goode), Damian purchases a procedure called “shedding,” in which a rich person can fake his own death and have his consciousness implanted into an entirely new young body. It's not long before Damian awakens to find himself rejuvenated in the form of Ryan Reynolds. Unfortunately, “Edward” (as he is now called) is plagued by visions, which prove that his new body isn't the fresh laboratory creation promised, but was previously inhabited by another man—and still retains some of that predecessor's memories. At this point Self/Less turns into a routine action movie, with Edward tracking down the wife and child of the man in whose body he's now living, trying to save himself (and them) from the scientist's evil minions. While the premise raises some interesting issues at a time when the theft and sale of body parts appears to be a thriving underground business, the film instead devolves into a succession of fistfights and shoot-'em-ups—becoming an action flick so dumb that it might have been more appropriately titled Sense/Less. Not a necessary purchase. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary by director Tarsem Singh, the production featurettes “Inside Self/Less (7 min.) and “Shedding” (3 min.), and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is an “On the Run: The Action” behind-the-scenes segment (7 min.), and bonus digital and UltraViolet copies of the film. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a disappointing sci-fi flick.] (F. Swietek)