Howard Rheingold’s groundbreaking book Virtual Reality (1991) popularized the topic of digital simulation in the developed world though it had been included in sci-fi movies and TV shows. With computer technology and artificial intelligence taking the lead in sci-fi stories, Brett Leonard’s Virtuosity (1995) became the movie the sci-fi world was ready for at the time.
The story of the movie, written by Eric Bernt, is set in 1999 when an experiment brings a psychopathic killer simulation called SID 6.7 (played by Russell Crowe) from the cyber/virtual world into the living one. Along comes his terror as he goes out on a killing spree and the man who can stop him, the ex-cop Parker Barnes (Denzel Washington), is serving time in prison for killing a terrorist. He must be now released to save the world from SID’s terror and can use help from psychologist Dr. Madison Carter (Kelly Lynch).
Virtuosity doesn’t have a great script but not one that is too flat either. Seeing the movie after the blockbuster success of T2: Judgment Day (1991), it is hard not to see some of the striking similarities, or call them parallels, most notably the cyber/AI antagonist’s power of regenerating himself that makes him virtually indestructible. Unlike Cameron’s T-1000 (Robert Patrick), however, Leonard’s SID 6.7 has some personality that makes it the movie’s primary attraction. Madison, the female lead, being a single mom of a young child and the lack of romantic connection between her and Parker also parallels the Judgment Day settings.
Visually, some of the scenes are worthy of praise. The rest is pretty average with Parker’s character lacking real conflict.
For both sci-fi fans of ‘90s cyber sci-fi and Russell Crowe, Virtuosity makes a watch-worthy production. Oh and there is action in the movie but no romance. So fit that into your formula when clicking on it.
