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It is the year 2079. Human rights and civil liberties are suspended as the earth goes on red
alert for an impending inter planetary attack by "genetically superior" aliens from Alpha Centuri. Dr. Spencer Olham (Gary Sinise) who is a genius at devising a new
post-nuclear weapon system, is suddenly arrested by government security agents headed by Major Hathaway (Vincent D'Onofrio). Hathaway believes that the alien spies have
succeeded in assassinating Dr. Olham and have replicated him with an entity that looks, talks and acts like a human and has a bomb embedded in his body that can cause mass
destruction. Olham protests vehemently that he is the real Dr. Olham.
However, the government agents are unconvinced because they believe that a replicant is so perfectly made that it does not know the truth about itself. Olham escapes and he tries not only to avoid recapture but also to retrieve his DNA records so he can prove his identity with the help of his doctor wife Maya (Madeleine Stowe).
The film is based on a short story by Philip K. Dick who is known for his futuristic
science-fiction that has been successfully made into films, among them Blade Runner and Total Recall. The movie tells the story of a man whose identity is under
question.
(Is he human or an android?) The effective beginning pricks the viewer's curiosity but his interest-though sustained due to the intriguing question--begins to flag in the middle of the narrative where one sees nothing much more than a series of running and chasing in gloomy corridors and endless, equally dark tunnels. In spite of the special effects, one can get bored or impatient over the repetitious and suspenseless action. There is hardly any plot development. The lead actors like Gary Sinise and Madeleine Stowe deliver impressive performances. D'Onofrio as Hathaway may remind the viewer of the driven Inspector Javert of Les Miserables who pursues his prey relentlessly and ruthlessly.
Impostor shows what can happen when human rights are suspended in a martial law situation. A person can be arrested on mere suspicion, subjected to physical torture, drugged to destroy his mind and deprived of the right to prove his innocence. He is condemned to death without trial. In the film, the government which is supposed to protect the individual becomes instead his judge and executioner. Though the government agents are motivated by the desire to protect and secure the state, they may often overstep the mark in dealing with the suspects. They may also be proven wrong as shown in the film. The deprivation of human rights as a means to secure the state may instead be the problem rather than the solution.
(Date reviewed: July 18, 2003)
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