It's difficult to sort out everything in A Scanner Darkly. It's not a complicated film, but a complex one. Start with the process for creating each frame. A camera digitally records the actors as they perform in a real physical space. Effects are added frame by frame to the digital video. The technique used is called Rotoshop, a mix of rotoscope and Photoshop. With Rotoshop, it's not necessary to animate each frame, since it can do some of the work for you. Instead of the actors on screen you get to view a digital representation of them and their surroundings. Quite fitting for a movie that deals with the issue of identity.
I think the most surprising thing about this film is that Keanu Reeves was really good in it. He can actually act. It's so hard to really know this, since I don't think he has a chance to do it very often. As a matter of fact, everyone was really good in it. In a way, I think that there performances were better because of the animation technique.
at May 4, 2007 11:52 PMKeanu Reeves can Act!?!?!
who knew? there has been some speculation amongst my friends here that his "acting" was actually due to the cleverness of the animators.
Posted by: hope at May 18, 2007 10:12 PM