The plot: A Mexican laborer, falsely targeted by the USA as a terrorist, goes to work for a "sleep factory", where he remotely operates robots for American corporations.
Sleep Dealer is a return to classic cyperpunk, like the early novels of William Gibson. It's a very believable world, full of near-future tech that's both intriguing and disheartening. Like Gibson's leftist criticism back in the 1980s, it examines globalism, isolationism, nationalism, and imperialism. It never becomes anti-American, but it probably will offend some conservative Americans. Some of the ideas are really great, and I liked how the movie played with current technological and political trends. Hopefully, if the movie were made today, it'd be a little more optimistic, but I kind of doubt it.
The biggest problem I had with Sleep Dealer was that it was so overt and explicit about its themes. Perhaps the director thought that these themes were too important to be coy about them. Regardless, it came across as a bit unsubtle and preachy. If you agree with the premises, you'll probably be pretty forgiving. Unfortunately, the acting isn't all that great, though it's good enough for a low budget, genre film. The special effects are a bit iffy, as well, but most people probably aren't expecting Avatar.
As long as you're willing to overlook some faults, this is an enjoyable and socially conscious science fiction movie that anyone can enjoy, regardless of their nationality.
Sleep Dealer is a return to classic cyperpunk, like the early novels of William Gibson. It's a very believable world, full of near-future tech that's both intriguing and disheartening. Like Gibson's leftist criticism back in the 1980s, it examines globalism, isolationism, nationalism, and imperialism. It never becomes anti-American, but it probably will offend some conservative Americans. Some of the ideas are really great, and I liked how the movie played with current technological and political trends. Hopefully, if the movie were made today, it'd be a little more optimistic, but I kind of doubt it.
The biggest problem I had with Sleep Dealer was that it was so overt and explicit about its themes. Perhaps the director thought that these themes were too important to be coy about them. Regardless, it came across as a bit unsubtle and preachy. If you agree with the premises, you'll probably be pretty forgiving. Unfortunately, the acting isn't all that great, though it's good enough for a low budget, genre film. The special effects are a bit iffy, as well, but most people probably aren't expecting Avatar.
As long as you're willing to overlook some faults, this is an enjoyable and socially conscious science fiction movie that anyone can enjoy, regardless of their nationality.