Megaville (B-)
STARS...
Billy Zane, J.C. Quinn, Grace Zabriskie,
Kristen Cloke, Hamilton Camp, and Daniel
J. Travanti.
PLOT SUMMARY...
In the future, (sort of), in a town where media is illegal,
an agent is sent to another town, Megaville, to "sting"
illegal media bootleggers.
QUICK SCAN...
This film could be compared to "Brainstorm". Daniel
J. Travanti ("Hill Street Blues"), as the head of the
Secret Police, overacts outrageously. Billy Zane acts disturbed
and zombie-like, as an undercover agent. The Special Video Effects,
by Michael Scroggins, are adequate at best. The film's surprising
ending will stick with you for awhile.
DIRECTOR: Peter Lehner
YEAR & RATING: 1991 (R)
BEST BETS:
In the future, in a city called "The Zone", it's illegal to watch TV or movies. A young member of the media police is altered to resemble a media bootlegger. He's sent on a mission to crack a media bootlegging ring.
In Megaville, our spy meets with his look-a-like's partner. His partner doesn't like the spy's idea of trying to expand the market for an illegal form of medi,a called Dream-a-Life.
The spy finds out that he actually is the guy he thought he was impersonating. His partner, who is also his father, kills him.
Review:
Director, Co-Writer Peter Lehner's MEGAVILLE has its moments, but
is ultimately disappointing.
In the future, in a town called The Zone, film and TV are illegal.
Billy Zane ("Dead Calm") is a young member of the Media
Police. He agrees to have himself cosmetically modified, in order
to pass himself off as a dealer of a new form of illegal media called
"Dream A Life".
The scenes in the Zone are photographed very effectively by Director
of Photography, Zoltan David. Apparently shot in Switzerland, (a
credit at the end of the film, thanks to the Swiss Department of
Interior), the use of stark, low angle exterior shots of official
buildings, and the effective use of light and shadow in the interiors,
creates a feeling of oppression, a kind of cross between the old
Soviet Union and 1984.
Zane works for Daniel J. Travanti ("Hill Street Blues")
who plays Duprell, the head of the Secret Police. Travanti, with
phony-looking grey hair and affecting a raspy voice, overacts outrageously.
At times his behavior brings to mind Peter Sellers' mad scientist
in "Dr. Strangelove". Apparently Director Peter Lehner
is responsible for Travanti's "scenery chewing", as Travanti
has been very good in the past, in "Hill Street Blues"
and elsewhere.
The film begins to fall apart when Zane, impersonating the bootleg
media dealer, arrives in Megaville, a city where media is legal.
Since this film is apparently set in the future, the use of contemporary
L.A. buildings, as well as current cars and clothing, is a let down.
Director/Writer Lehner shows his lack of imagination here, which
is a fatal flaw in science fiction. And although the Director of
Photography, David, tries, he can't do much with the brightly lit,
obviously contemporary L.A. locations.
The central Sci-Fi gimmick of the film are the Dream-A-Life mini-headphones
- like devices, which, when put on the head, give the wearer a realistic,
interactive 3-D video experience. Similar in concept to Big Arnold's
mental vacation in "Total Recall", the prop here looks
cheap, and the interactive adventures are both too brief and too
ordinary to be impressive. The Special Video Effects, by Michael
Scroggins, are adequate at best.
My favorite scene in the film is when the President of Megaville,
(Reagan-lookalike, Bryan Clark), is suddenly suffocated with a plastic
bag while making a live TV broadcast. The scene is shocking and
has an impact that is missing in the rest of the film.
Lead actor, Billy Zane, is disturbed and zombie-like as the media
undercover agent. We don't get to know about him that much, but
we do care what happens to him, which counts for something.
The film's Music is moody and atmospheric. Stacy Widelitz is the
responsible party.
Much more effective is J.C. Quinn ("Maximum Overdrive")
as Zale's media bootleg partner. Average on screen, he really excells
in his voice over narration, which happens periodically, since it's
his character who is narrating the film, a confusing story element
which becomes very clear at the end. With lines like, "Never
trust anybody but the ugly guy in the mirror", and "The
problem is with compassion; it's no substitute for balls!!! Quinn
is a very memorable audio, if not video, presence.
MEGAVILLE, which has some clever photography in "The Zone",
interesting performances, and intriguing ideas, ultimately is sabotaged
by a weak script, by Director Lehner and Gordon Chavis, and an apparently
shoestring budget. To Lehner's credit, he does keep your attention
up to the end, at which time he throws a twist at you at the very
last minute, resulting in a final screen image that will stay with
you for a long time.
If you like totalitarian future story films, like "1984,"
and "The Handmaid's Tale", you may enjoy MEGAVILLE. If
you need big budgets, and thrill a minute action to enjoy yourself,
avoid the offramp to MEGAVILLE.
MovieMonday.com * Super Star Index * Award Winners * CelebrityFrame.com