i-Lived (2015)
Starring Jeremiah Watkins, Sarah Power, Elaine Partnow
Directed by Franck Khalfoun
Apps – where would we be without them? It seems as if there has been one created for every waking moment of the day, for all people, in all situations – and we’re not just talking about getting the weather or grabbing last night’s late game score, no. A literal deluge of computer-assisted applications is at your fingertips for whatever your heart desires, but downloader beware: make sure you read the fine print before installing one into your possession, as it could cost you dearly…and I’m not talking about it being reflected on your cellular bill.
From Maniac director Franck Khalfoun comes one of the better caveats against using these particular operations, especially when one proclaims it will help you reach any goal you’ve set for yourself – whatever happened to just writing down an intention and sticking it on your fridge door? Jeremiah Watkins plays (to the hilt, I might add) Josh Fosse, a mid-20’s tech-dork with no job, and the simple pleasure of posting videos online YouTube-style of himself testing and rating new gadgets. With a less than pleased Father dogging him for a career change at every turn, and a Mother whose been diagnosed with a terminal illness, Josh’s upside hasn’t even reached 2nd gear yet. All of that changes when he becomes introduced to the life-altering phone app called “i-Lived.” The rules to its use are very simple: just enter a specific goal that you’ve set for yourself, and you’ll be inundated with a barrage of messages on how to achieve that goal, but you MUST adhere specifically to the rules you’ve been supplied – oh yeah, this is going to be bad.
While the initial test doesn’t exactly blow Josh’s skirt up, he decides to give it a go again and set the goal of attracting a very beautiful woman at the bar one night, and damned if it doesn’t work like a charm! With a new lady on his arm (Power), it’s time to up the stakes – millions of followers and a new job are on the wish list, however with each goal set, he is given tasks by the app that are bordering on unsafe and straight up ludicrous – only problem is when Josh decides enough is enough, he cancels his usage, and everything he’s worked for goes “POOF!” Added to these issues are the appearance of a man dressed in black (no, not Johnny Cash) who shows up at all times and locations, even breaking into Josh’s apartment. Is the figure real, or something cooked up by the application? Is the lure of fame and fortune worth all the trouble at your own expense, or is the road to riches and recognition paved by the bodies of the weaker?
The movie plays out like a rags-to-riches story, with a set of dark undertones floating the boat, and we go from a goofy guy just looking to better his life, to a full-blown disaster that only worsens with every message received. Watkins is the embodiment of the nerdish-loser, desperately hoping for a miracle to happen, but somewhere halfway through, he turns into a man who has committed horrific acts that gain him his far-flung wishes, but the movie ventures way too far into the inane territory. Not to say that this wasn’t a fun ride to take, but the actions overwhelmed the sentiment, and the end result was one that felt like a solid punch in the gut, and I guess that’s the price you pay for allowing your electronics to do your thinking for you. Worth a one-timer of a watch, but tread lightly, because the apps are watching… and I’m fairly sure there’s already an app for that as well.
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Film
Categorized:Reviews
