"Mostow's latest robot-centric production... a highly compelling and multi-conceptual piece of film-making... still has its fill of big action - as expected by Willis/McClane fans."

Walt Disney's entertaining but unnerving Surrogates is like a 'Noughties Blade Runner', a futuristic possibility that explores the ultimate question: Has technology gone too far? This time, though, the artificial life forms take over because humankind has allowed them to, so that they can live a perfect daily existence for the people who operate them back home. This mainstream film from Terminator 3 director Jonathan Mostow is certain to fuel the kinds of debates that audiences were obsessed with back in 1982 with Ridley Scott's masterpiece - and still are. In addition to the technology question, Mostow's highly astute film emphasises the current obsession with 'the body beautiful', as well as our relationships becoming more remote and isolated by technology that allows us to create profiles online, even 'new lives' like the community-life game, Second Life. -----------

Without sounding alarmist, although classed as sci-fi, this future-focused nightmare is almost a gentle cinematic warning that is not lost on those who view it, even if the general conclusion is one of helplessness to prevent the technology onslaught taking an unsavoury turn for the worst. ---------

Never mind recent terrorism/fraud-based action thrillers, the biggest threat, it seems, is technology, and who better to bring back to fight this dirty, out-of-control menace than Bruce Willis who makes an action hero's welcome return as a John McClane-styled and ego-bruised upholder of the law, FBI Agent Greer. Willis does not resist the chance of self-mockery with the most comical wig of the century as Greer's spray-painted, Teflon-looking surrogate, adding some subtle, tongue-in-cheek humour. ----------

As McClane, Willis got his dosage of the evils of technology back in 2007 in Die Hard 4.0, and even though it has been two years since he has been in a memorable role, it's good to have him back on track in one that he not only excels in, but we also love him for. Willis is the epitome of the 'old-school hard man', wearily battling something dangerously new and unknown, but refusing to be defeated, picking himself up time and time again after each rough encounter. The Die Hard explosions, chases and superhuman jumps are all present in this film, too, but to a lesser extent, enough to please the fans. However, this film's primary focus is the concept of technology versus humanity, with Willis' Greer representing all those technology sceptics and technophobes out there, who are recent converts to a digital age (computers, email, Internet etc), acting as a channel for their voices, as he questions the necessity of technology overload and our denial that we cannot do without it. --------

Radha Mitchell as Greer's FBI partner Peters and Rosamund Pike as his wife, Maggie, are smartly cast and equally engaging as the leading ladies, adding not only the glamour, but the wit, intelligence and strength to support Willis' Greer. We also glimpse both actresses stripped of their own outer beauty, when we see the real people behind the plastic masks exposed. Interestingly, seasoned actor James Cromwell makes an appearance as yet another delusional scientist, as he does in 2004's I, Robot, another similar tale about a technophobic cop who investigates a crime that may have been carried out by a robot, which leads to a larger threat to humanity. The parallels with this film are not lost here, with Cromwell's character Canter realising his grave mistake in the near destruction of humanity by his own hand. In fact the idea that we do not have total control over technology, where viruses come into the equation, is a frightening one, is also dealt with here. What is interesting is Canter's admission that these machines were initially designed to aid the less-able-bodied to function in an able-bodied environment, rather than for vanity reasons. One breath-stopping moment is the collapse of all the surrogates that suggests we cannot play God with the 'living'. Indeed the topical debates continue... ---------

After all the screening secrecy surrounding Surrogates, Mostow's latest robot-centric production turns out to be a highly compelling and multi-conceptual piece of film-making, and one that still has its fill of big action - as expected by Willis/McClane fans. ------

Synopsis -------

FBI agents (Willis and Mitchell) investigate the mysterious murder of a college student linked to the man who helped create a high-tech surrogate phenomenon that allows people to purchase unflawed robotic versions of themselves - fit, good looking remotely controlled machines that ultimately assume their life roles - enabling people to experience life vicariously from the comfort and safety of their own homes. The murder spawns a quest for answers: in a world of masks, who's real and who can you trust? ---------

Film Facts --------

Official site: http://www.surrogatesmovie.co.uk/

UK Release Date: 25th September 2009

Director: Jonathan Mostow

Writers: Michael Ferris, John D. Brancato

Cast: Bruce Willis ('Greer'), Radha Mitchell ('Peters'), Rosamund Pike ('Maggie'), James Francis Ginty ('younger Canter'), James Cromwell ('Canter'), Boris Kodjoe ('Stone'), Ving Rhames ('The Prophet')

Distributor: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures UK

Certificate: 12A

Run-time: 89 mins

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