All style and no substance sinks this promising film

Rating: Null/10 (4 January 1999)

My expectations were high indeed once I had seen the preview for Proyas' Dark City. My hopes and dreams were dashed, however, when I settled in for the film and was confronted by one-dimensional characterization and a mountain of unnecessary over-explanation of everything going on -- as delivered by an unintentionally hilarious Kiefer Sutherland (reminding me of the most egregious stereotypes of mad scientists this side of Peter Lorre and the buck-toothed, lab-coated crazy on The Simpsons). Sadly, the luminous Jennifer Connelly was under-used and her leading man Rufus Sewell had all the charisma and charm of a wilted, rotting carrot.