Johnny Mnemonic Movie Review

Based on a screenplay by cyberpunk godfather William Gibson (author of cult favorite Neuromancer) and directed by artist Robert Longo (in his first film), this flick could more aptly be called Johnny Moronic. Keanu Reeves plays a high-tech courier of the future, whose brain has been technologically enhanced, allowing him to carry a huge amount of computer information in his head. Only problem is, he can only store the information for a limited amount of time before his brain turns to mush (even in the future they can't fix that). Johnny takes one last mission to earn enough money to restore memories he gave up for added cyber storage. Of course, things go badly as Johnny is hunted by the Japanese Yakuza and various other unsavory characters who want his head (literally). Johnny is aided by an implant-enhanced bodyguard (Dina Meyer), a group of underground hackers called the LoTeks (get the subtle anti-technology message in a technology-laden flick), and a former doctor (Henry Rollins) who is trying to cure a technology-induced plague. Keanu gives an even more dead-pan performance than usual, perhaps because he is missing part of his brain (what's his excuse for Dracula then?). The effects are appropriately engaging, but any flick that ends with a telepathic dolphin has to be all wet. Look for an almost-unrecognizable Dolph Lundgren as the Preacher.

1995 (R) 98m/C Keanu Reeves, Dina Meyer, Ice-T, Takeshi, Dolph Lundgren, Henry Rollins, Udo Kier, Barbara Sukowa, Denis Akiyama; D: Robert Longo; W: William Gibson; C: Francois Protat; M: Brad Fiedel. VHS, LV, 8mm COL