Cronenberg intentionally insults industry

Rating: Null/10 (3 January 2004)

There is a tremendous fusion of good and bad here that it took me until now to realize what the fuss was about. Cronenberg mocks the establishments of the press, science, and television with wicked gusto.
This is your only spoiler warning...
The first level is Goldblum. His simple quirkiness isn't anything phenomenal, but it actually suits him the more he decomposes. Cronenberg treats Goldblum like a diseased relative that is visited on occasion rather than following him. The decomposing transformation is the horror genre itself, more interested in being stronger and uglier than smarter. In the end, it is up to the real actor (posing as the real film talent) to destroy the abomination (partial mercy-killing).
The second level is the pacing. Near the end I was disappointed to see a "TV fadeout" associated with commercial breaks. "Return of the King" had five of them if I recall correctly. It's that emphasis on the unreal that makes this interesting.
The makeup effects have dated, leaving only some computer displays as eye candy. At least some biology research was done here unlike the useless original.
Shore's music is fitting because it never tells you how to feel, only providing background to the scenes.
Final Analysis = = Midrange Material