Overdrawn at the Memory Bank (1983) (TV)

User Rating:

2.1/10   

Director:

Douglas Williams

Writers:

John Varley (short story)
Corinne Jacker (teleplay)

Release Date:

1983 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi

Tagline:

They want to control his mind but can't even find his body.

Plot:

The mind of a computer programmer is removed by a totalitarian government and accidentally trapped in a virtual reality simulation.

Plot Keywords:

Casablanca | Virtual Reality | Brain | Actor Playing Multiple Roles | Fat Man

Cast

Linda Griffiths	...	Computech Apollonia James
Raul Julia	...	Aram Fingal / Rick Blaine
Donald Moore	...	Novicorp Chairman / The Fat Man (as Donald C. Moore)
Wanda Cannon	...	Felicia Varley / Lola
Helen Carscallen	...	Dr. Darwin
Rex Hagon	...	Shuttle Passenger (as Rex Hagan)
Patrick Brymer	...	Nirvana Clerk
Chapelle Jaffe	...	Djamilla
Denise Pidgeon	...	Doppling Medico (as Denise Pigeon)
Bunty Webb	...	Teacher
Audra Williams	...	Desirée
Hadley Kay	...	Marco
Gary Farmer	...	Tooby
Arnie Achtman	...	Slavin
Maury Chaykin	...	Gondol

Runtime:

83 min

Country:

Canada | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

RSL

Trivia:

Part of a series of literary adaptations for Public Broadcasting Service, which included The Lathe of Heaven (1980) (TV) as well.

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: When Aram's mother is run over, there is a medium shot of Pierre talking to Aram. During their conversation the bottom of the boom mic pops into frame for a second or two and then leaves frame.

Quotes:

Fingal: At least I'm not an anteater.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Future War (#11.4)" (1999)

I gave it a 5

Yes, it's a bad movie. The plot is rather strange if even comprehensible. The acting is a little wooden by everyone but Raul, however, can anyone honestly tell me that the direction was anything but impressive? Really, the scene construction and camera dynamics were brilliant and was not seen in movies again for some time to come. It was shot on video, from the looks of it an old Panasonic like I had when I was a kid. Yeah, they over-used chroma key stuff, but nowadays it's considered art, and this movie was avant-garde.

I didn't really like this movie otherwise, but I'm giving credit where it is due, and this movies direction and general scene dynamics were definitely ahead of it's time and do not deserve to be coupled with the awfulness of the movie itself.

If you are an aspiring director or screenwriter with a vision, take a look at this. If you are only out to watch the greatest movies ever made, don't bother.