While watching this film, I kept wondering if something had been lost in the translation or if I just lacked a certain cultural context, as that would explain why it wasn’t connecting with me in the way it had for so many others.  But after leaving the theater, I thought about the specific issues that I had with it and realized that neither of those issues were relevant.  Although there were interesting qualities to the film (namely in the way that it plays with sound), they are ultimately overshadowed by the unfocused narrative and thinly developed ideas.  I left feeling empty.

Definitely a minor work from David Cronenberg, but I really dug it.  It had interesting things to say about our relationship to mortality and technology.  Vincent Cassell is also really good in this and I like how he looked like Cronenberg- something which is not a coincidence and adds a melancholy subtext that was much appreciated.