Cypher

Cypher is a Canadian sci-fi thriller released in 2002, directed by Vincenzo Natali and written by Brian King. It stars Jeremy Northam and Lucy Liu.

Vincenzo Natali follows up his stunning debut Cube with this impressive cyber-thriller about corporate espionage and identity crisis. Jeremy Northam and Lucy Liu star

Five years on from his cult Canadian sci-fi film debut Cube, director Vincenzo Natali returns with this more pedestrian, but no less enjoyable, identity thriller set in a near-future world of corporate intrigue and espionage.

Plot (SPOILER@Wikipedia / IMDB)
Jeremy Northam stars as Morgan Sullivan, a suburban accountant so fed up with his life of grey flannel suits and spreadsheets that he jumps at the chance to become a corporate spy. Despite being sent off to attend some of the most boring conferences in the universe, Morgan revels in his double life until he meets Rita (Liu), a glamorous conference guest who claims that things are more complicated than they seem. Drawn into a web of deception and paranoia, Morgan has to question his very identity in order to survive.

Beautifully shot by cinematographer Derek Rogers in desaturated grey-metallic colours that recall Andrew Niccol's Gattaca, this disorientating film makes no apologies for its hardcore sci-fi approach, explicitly cribbing from authors like Philip K Dick and William Gibson and films like The Truman Show and The Matrix. While the script ties itself in knots in the third act, taking us so far through the looking glass that we end up in the narrative equivalent of a hall of mirrors, Natali's direction is first-class.

Natali creates a believable future world without recourse to expensive special effects, while coaxing excellent performances from Northam as the worm who turns and Liu (a revelation) as his femme-fatale saviour.

It may not have the originality, or startling bleakness, that characterized Cube, but until Natali gets around to making the sci-fi masterpiece his fans believe he is capable of, this is good enough to be going on with.

Personal Note:
This DTV movie at a mere $7 million still manages to get into my favorite movies list. Natali has made a highly stylized (Gattaca like) corporate espionage movie with mindfucks and twists and turns not unlike a Philip K. Dick novel. Northam & Liu both deliver their A game, together with King's writing this made a compelling movie for me to watch from beginning to end. Most memorable scenes will have to be the brainwashing during the lectures. If you have a vested interest in interrior decorating or design the competing corporations make for a nice stylized adversary. Definitely worth a rental but I would suggest to buy the DVD if you can.
Reviews:
"Combines industrial espionage with alternative reality in a satisfyingly mind-bending plot reminiscent of Philip K. Dick at his best. / Natali has crafted a clever, futuristic mind-bender that's both beautiful to look at...and cerebrally challenging with its questions about reality and identity. Not bad for a film made for the cost of The Matrix's opening credits." Via Rottentomatoes.

"In many ways, Cypher comes across as a cyberpunk version of Hitchcock’s North by Northwest. The pacing and feel of Cypher is very similar, and in both movies, you really never know what’s coming around the next corner, but most assuredly it will involve more layers of out-of-control untruths. With all the goodness that Cypher gives us, you’d almost expect the final score to be a 9 or 10. But unfortunately, Cypher’s story falls apart at the end. The technical believability, which is decently high throughout the film, flat-out does a belly flop at the end, and expects us to buy something that anyone who knows a whit about data security, just can’t stomach (I can add a spoiler page on this if anyone is interested). However, this sore point is not enough to sap enjoyment out of an otherwise wonderfully made film. You may not have heard of Cypher, but this is not an indication of its quality. Give it a go – chances are you’ll love it!" via Cyberpunkreview.

"Proof that Natali is a sci-fi filmmaker of considerable talent, Cypher may not have the startling originality of Cube, but it's an enjoyable example of paranoid cyberpunk with first-class performances from Northam and Liu." via Channel 4.