Benchmark

Rating: 7/10 (16 October 2005)

This is a great movie, in my book. Interesting, scary, funny, emotional. It is a defined slice of culture but could have been taken from many other metro/melting pot urban centers. LA was the choice and was somewhat reflected in the superficial characters; they seemed to be presented at the depth that network TV shows present characters.
I think this was an effective way to make the material likable to the broadest audience, playing to the mean. However, I found it presented the good side/bad side too rigorously. The movie gave away it's formula too early. I already figured the ammo was blanks, long before we got a view of the red box.
The use of sequencing vignettes was neatly done, tying the beginning to the end in a mobius strip. I could have watched it unfold again. I was distracted by the playback. The sound track was too intrusive. It could be that a grittier, harsher, less polished product might be unwatchable. But I would surely like to see it redone.