I don’t know much about Philip K. Dick’s body of work. I think I’ve only seen Total Recall, and even that is supposed to be a bad adaptation. A Scanner Darkly, however, is a neat film visually with a suspenseful plot. Although I was confused 75% of the time, I enjoyed the film as a whole.

Keanu Reeves actually does a good job acting in this film. He is convincing as a drug addict (!) and you feel for his character quite a bit. It’s also nice to know that Hollywood pariahs such as Robert Downey, Jr. and Winona Ryder — who have both had their own oft-publicized encounters with drugs — can still do a quality job on the big screen. A lot of funny moments in A Scanner Darkly are brought on by Downey, Jr., Woody Harrelson, and Rory Cochrane who provide a nice support network for Keanu.

Although the story feels a bit preachy regarding drugs and addiction, it is not without its merits. The film shows the deterioration of the mind on extreme drugs and the paranoia and psychological problems that can ensue. Arctor’s identity is so muddled; he must be Fred when he is in his “work suit”, Bob when he is with his friends, and finally Bruce when his grasp of reality is at its worst. The movie got a bit confusing for me at times, but overall it was an interesting story and worth watching, if simply for its unique visual presentation.