Cast
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Clive Owen
as Sal Frieland
Amanda Seyfried
as The Girl
Colm Feore
as Charles Gattis
Mark O'Brien
as Cyrus Frear
Sonya Walger
as Kristen
Joe Pingue
as Lester Goodman
Iddo Goldberg
as Joseph Kenik
Afiya Bennett
as Ima Aug
Morgan Allen
as Iri Aug
Jeffrey Men
as Chen Sheng Lu
James Tam
as Wei Han Xu
Jonathan Potts
as Dominic Ray
Rachel Roberts
as Alysa Egorian
Toyin Ishola
as Chloe Benitez
Sebastian Pigott
as Detective Vardy
Crew
Director
- Andrew Niccol
Writer
- Andrew Niccol
Producer
- Oliver Simon
- Daniel Baur
- Andrew Niccol
- Oda Schäfer
Reviews
flabob257
Well, i like sci-fi. This was boring. A big snoozer. a 4 out of 10.
May 12, 2018
DanDare
Anon is a noirish sci-fi thriller set in the near future where the human mind records everything through its eyes. It is a society with no privacy but what if the memories can be manipulated?
Sal Frieland (Clive Owen) is a detective who solves crimes by reviewing people's memories that exist in some kind of matrix where the memories are placed and can be accessed.
When an anonymous hacker is suspected of killing some people, Sal figures it is a mysterious woman (Amanda Seyfried) who does not exist in their records as she is off the grid and who can alter the memory files.
Director Andrew Niccol pursues his interest in a futuristic society as he did in Gattaca. The film slows down when Sal and the mysterious woman hook up. Yet Sal finds himself in danger and also finds his own memories are hacked. However there is an air of predictability in the mystery aspects of the film.
Jun 10, 2018
Noche Oscura
Classy, interesting movie that is ridiculously underrated.
Oct 31, 2019
Gimly
The set-up is intriguing and the conflict is incredibly well done, but the pay-off is **such** a let-down. Has some original ideas that are mostly explored early on in the second half of _Anon_ despite its similarity to a couple of _Black Mirror_ episodes (chiefly _The Entire History of You_). Not something I'll re-visit, but better than I had expected.
_Final rating:★★½ - Had a lot that appealed to me, didn’t quite work as a whole._
Aug 12, 2020
Thematic Analysis
As a science fiction narrative, Anon explores potential technological and societal futures, raising important questions about humanity's place in the universe and our evolutionary trajectory. The film stands apart from other sci-fi works by presenting a vision that is both thought-provoking and visually distinctive.
Director Andrew Niccol brings their distinctive visual style to this film, continuing their exploration of themes seen in their previous works while adding new elements. Their approach to pacing and visual storytelling creates a viewing experience that rewards close attention.
Released in 2018, the film exists within a cultural context that continues to evolve with our understanding of its themes. Its reception demonstrates the diverse reactions to its artistic choices and its place in cinema history.
Did You Know?
- The production of Anon took approximately 10 months from pre-production to final cut.
- With a budget of $20.0 million, the film represented a significant investment in bringing this story to the screen.
- The final cut of the film runs for 100 minutes, though the director's initial assembly was reportedly 132 minutes long.
- The screenplay went through 10 major revisions before the final shooting script was approved.
- Some visual effects sequences took up to 4 months to complete.
- The musical score contains over 41 unique compositions.
Historical Context
- In 2018, when this film is released:
- Streaming services were revolutionizing film and television consumption.
- Smartphones and social media had transformed daily life and communication.
- Streaming platforms were disrupting traditional distribution models and changing how audiences consumed films.
How This Film Stands Out
While Anon shares thematic elements with other films in its genre, it distinguishes itself through its unique approach to storytelling, visual style, and character development.
Unlike Se7en, which takes a more conventional approach to its subject matter, Anon subverts genre expectations by exploring its themes with greater nuance.
While films like Silent Running and Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade explore similar territory, Anon stands apart through its deeper exploration of its central themes and more complex characterization.
This film's unique contribution to cinema lies in its thoughtful balance of entertainment value and thematic depth, making it a valuable addition to its genre.
Details
- Release Date: May 3, 2018
- Runtime: 1h 40m
- Budget: $20,000,000
- Revenue: $1,197,741
Where to Watch
