Looker
Looker | |
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![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Michael Crichton |
Written by | Michael Crichton |
Produced by | Howard Jeffrey |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Paul Lohmann |
Edited by | Carl Kress |
Music by | Barry De Vorzon |
Production company | |
Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
Release date |
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Running time | 94 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $8–12 million[1][2] |
Box office | $3.3 million[3] |
Lookeris a 1981 Americanscience fictionthriller film[1][4]written and directed byMichael Crichton,starringAlbert Finney,James Coburn,Susan Dey,andLeigh Taylor-Young.[5]It follows a series of mysterious deaths plaguing femalemodelswho have undergonecosmetic surgeryfrom a renowned Los Angeles physician. The film explores media, advertising and television's impact on the public in creating a ridiculous standard of beauty.
Though sparse in visual effects, it is the first commercial film to attempt to use acomputer-generated,three-dimensional, solid-looking model of a whole human body. However, as with its predecessorsFutureworld,Star Wars,andAlien,this was an example of "CGI representing CGI", and only depicted onCRTscreens in the film, rather than being used as a special effect. The model had no skeletal or facial movements and was not a character.Lookerwas also the first film to createthree-dimensional(3D) shading with a computer,[6]months before the release of the better-knownTron.
Plot
[edit]Dr. Larry Roberts, a renownedBeverly Hillsplastic surgeon, performs cosmetic procedures on a clientele mainly consisting of female television models. Lisa Convey, one of his patients, falls into a trance state in her apartment after being exposed to a flash of light, unaware of the presence of a man lurking in her closet. She falls from her balcony moments later in what is suspected by police to be a suicide.
Lieutenant Masters questions Roberts at his office, where his secretary finds that several medical records—including Lisa's—have mysteriously vanished. After Masters departs, patient Cindy Fairmont visits for a final follow-up appointment, followed by Tina Cassidy. A disturbed Tina begs Roberts to return her to her original appearance, claiming that the "perfect" models in the city are being murdered. After Tina departs, she leaves behind her purse, which contains a document from Digital Matrix Inc. (DMI). When Roberts attempts to return the purse to Tina, he sees a flash of light in her apartment window, and she too falls to her death. Roberts sees a man on her balcony, but he disappears.
Fearing for Cindy's safety, Roberts invites her to join him for a fundraising dinner held by billionaire businessman John Reston, who introduces Roberts to the head of DMI, Jennifer Long. She explains that DMI used women's facial measurements for a visual technology experiment that was recently ended. Roberts then brings Cindy back to his residence and, despite her expectation of a romantic encounter, has her sleep in the guest room. The next day, Roberts accompanies Cindy to the filming of a television commercial where DMI technicians monitor the set using a computer. When Cindy is unable to hit her marks, the DMI technicians inform her that the commercial will be completed usingCGIwhich will require Cindy to visit DMI.
As Cindy undergoes a 3D body scan at the DMI laboratory, Jennifer tests Roberts' eyes with the computer. His point of focus is shown to be on the model rather than the products advertised. Jennifer divulges that, after surgery, Cindy and other models were assessed as visually "perfect" by the computer in still photos, but their scores were inconsistent while in motion. Roberts notices flashes of light from the "Looker" lab which Jennifer claims her security card will not allow them to enter. Roberts steals a security card from a technician before departing with Cindy and the theft is reported to Reston.
While Cindy is visiting her parents, Roberts is exposed to a series of light flashes by the man from Tina's balcony after which hours pass without his awareness. When Cindy returns that night, the two drive to DMI and enter using the security card to breach the Looker lab. Roberts learns that Looker stands for "light ocular-oriented kinetic emotive responses" which uses high-intensity light to induce trances in those exposed. A man enters the Looker lab and attacks Roberts using the Looker gun. Roberts defends himself by using a pair of mirrored sunglasses to reflect the light, immobilizing the assailant.
Later, Reston orders the man to abduct Cindy and murder Roberts. Arriving at Roberts's office, they kidnap Cindy. The next morning, Roberts is chased through the city by Reston's henchman, causing Roberts to crash his car, but he escapes. Roberts stows aboard a Reston Industries security car to infiltrate the company headquarters. Onstage for a gala demonstration, Reston introduces his company's newfound ability to create commercials using computer-generated actors. The audience is then mesmerized by Jennifer who is operating the computer from the room where she is holding Cindy. When Jennifer leaves the console, Reston's henchman kills her having mistaken her for Roberts. A struggle between Roberts and the henchman is ended by Reston shooting at Roberts and accidentally killing his own man. Lieutenant Masters, who has been following Roberts, arrives in time to kill Reston before he can shoot Roberts.
Cast
[edit]- Albert Finneyas Dr. Larry Roberts
- James Coburnas John Reston
- Susan Deyas Cindy Fairmont
- Leigh Taylor-Youngas Jennifer Long
- Dorian Harewoodas Lieutenant Masters
- Tim Rossovichas the moustache man
- Darryl Hickmanas Dr. Jim Belfield
- Terri Wellesas Lisa Convey
- Terry Kiseras the commercial director
- Georgann Johnsonas Cindy's mother
- Richard Ventureas Cindy's father
Production
[edit]Crichton started thinking about the subject of the film in 1975.[7]He says he went to a Los Angeles computer company to find out how they could create copies in commercials without looking too ridiculous and discovered a company in Texas was already doing it, calledtomography.[8]
Lookerbecame an early production ofThe Ladd Company.[9]It was Leigh Taylor-Young's first film in eight years.[10]Filming took place at theGoldwyn Studios,The Burbank Studios,and on location in the Los Angeles area.[1]
In 1991, James Coburn said, "My part was pretty much on the cutting room floor. They really pissed that film away. They had Albert Finney running around in a security guard's uniform throughout the film. It didn't make any sense. It could have been a good picture. It was about how television controls. It was about how commercials manipulate people to buy products, politicians, whatever. But, they cut the film up for a television print. I don't know why they did that. They spent some bread on the picture too. It was a $12 million production. That's not much today, but back then it was a pretty big budget."[2]
Reception
[edit]Lookerwas poorly received by critics, particularly film historianLeonard Maltin,who wrote, "Intriguing premise is illogically and boringly mishandled; even Finney cannot save this turkey."[11]On thereview aggregatorwebsiteRotten Tomatoes,the film holds an approval rating of 32% based on 22 reviews, with an average rating of 4.5/10.[12]It grossed $3.3 million in the United States and Canada.[3]
See also
[edit]- Max Headroom: 20 Minutes into the Future,a 1985cyberpunktelevision filmabout television adverts and their subliminal effects on viewers
- Timeline of CGI in film and television
References
[edit]- ^abcLookerat theAFI Catalog of Feature Films
- ^abGoldman, Lowell (Spring 1991)."James Coburn Seven and Seven Is".Psychotronic Video.No. 9. p. 28.
- ^ab"Looker (1981) – Financial Information".The Numbers.
- ^"Looker".Variety.1981.RetrievedApril 21,2024.
- ^"Looker".Turner Classic Movies.RetrievedAugust 13,2016.
- ^"Visual and Special Effects Film Milestones (1980–1982)".Filmsite.RetrievedApril 21,2024.
- ^Warga, Wayne(March 1, 1981). "Fact, Fiction Intertwined By Crichton".Los Angeles Times.p. m22.
- ^Buckley, Tom (February 6, 1981)."At the Movies; How Resnais made a success with science".The New York Times.p. C12.
- ^Pollock, Dale(August 6, 1980). "Film Clips: All Geared Up With Nowhere To Go".Los Angeles Times.p. i3.
- ^"Roderick Mann: Leigh Taylor-Young Returns To The Scene".Los Angeles Times.January 8, 1981. p. h1.
- ^Maltin, Leonard(1987).Leonard Maltin's TV Movies and Video Guide 1988.New York:Signet.p.584.ISBN978-0-451-15562-7.
- ^"Looker".Rotten Tomatoes.RetrievedApril 21,2024.
External links
[edit]- LookeratIMDb
- LookeratAllMovie
- Lookerat theAFI Catalog of Feature Films
- Lookerat theTCM Movie Database
- Bria, Bill (July 13, 2023)."Jurassic Park'sCreator Predicted the Strangest Part of the SAG Strike in a 1981 Sci-Fi Movie "./Film.RetrievedJuly 15,2023.
- 1981 films
- 1981 computer-animated films
- 1981 science fiction films
- 1981 thriller films
- 1980s American films
- 1980s English-language films
- 1980s psychological thriller films
- 1980s science fiction thriller films
- American psychological thriller films
- American science fiction thriller films
- English-language science fiction thriller films
- Films about advertising
- Films about mind control
- Films about modeling
- Films about plastic surgery
- Films about television
- Films directed by Michael Crichton
- Films scored by Barry De Vorzon
- Films set in Beverly Hills, California
- Films set in Los Angeles
- Films shot in Burbank, California
- Films shot in Los Angeles
- Films with screenplays by Michael Crichton
- The Ladd Company films
- Warner Bros. films