Total Recall (1990)
by Cheeto
Posted on 27 May 2021
Rating -
Total Recall is a 1990 American science fiction action film directed by Paul Verhoeven and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rachel Ticotin, Sharon Stone, Ronny Cox, and Michael Ironside. The film is loosely based on the 1966 Philip K. Dick short story “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale”.
The film tells the story of a construction worker who suddenly finds himself embroiled in espionage on Mars and unable to determine if the experiences are real or the result of memory implants. It was written by Ronald Shusett, Dan O’Bannon, Jon Povill, and Gary Goldman, and won a Special Achievement Academy Award for its visual effects. The original score, composed by Jerry Goldsmith, won the BMI Film Music Award.
Total Recall has always been one of my favourite films of all time, it has always been a recurring thing in my home. I feel very privileged to have been able to see this in the cinema. Once again, I may be slighlty biased but oh well.
You would be mistaken for thinking this is just another 90’s science-fiction action film, they sort of follow the same tropes and and formula, while Total Recall dabbles in these tropes from time to time, it is so much more than that. Total Recall is a smart, intricate and fascinating masterpiece.
I love the cast in this film, Arnold Schwarzenegger dominates the screen in only a way that he can. Sharon Stone shot herself into stardom with her role, and Rachel Ticotin perfectly rounds off this film. Michael Ironside and Ronny Cox are the perfect antagonists, they’re genuinely evil, this makes it even better when we see our protagonists kick their asses.
I love the soundtrack to this film, it accompanies the film, and sums it up perfectly. I also love how smart the story writing is in this film, it’ll take you a few watches to fully get it. If this was a Tom Hanks drama, the same calibre of story would be praised for years to come.
The practical effects are laughably bad, but I don’t consider them a negatvive, they give some added charm to the film, they also remind you that the film is from a different era. Some of the dialogue is a bit hokey, but this is expected due to it being a 90’s science-fiction action film.
Overall, I think that Total Recall is a brilliant film, it has everything you want in a Arnold Schwarzenegger science-fiction action film. Make sure to watch this one guys.
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