Visioneers [DVD] [2009]

Brandon and Jared Drake's independently produced comedy is an exceptional first feature effort as a writer/director team. Earlier reviews have connected the film's themes and settings to some known dystopian society stories, like Orwell's 1984, Gilliam's BRAZIL, and even Mike Judge's more recent IDIOCRACY; however, I believe VISIONEERS stands very well on its own and is best viewed with all comparisons minimized or even set aside completely. This is an accessible dark comedy comprised of equal parts corporate satire with genuine warmth and sweetness.

As an actual distressed lower-level employee in an increasingly grim society, and as an admirer of the more personal stories often told by the independents, I think VISIONEERS is a highly satisfying and worthwhile experience. I would definitely recommend this film to fans of Zach Galifianakis and to those who are looking for something a little different.

The 2010 low budget indie film `Visioneer' starring Zach Galifianakis presents the audience with a vision of a possible dark, authoritarian future. Be prepared for a powerful, clear and disturbingly accurate vision of a world without self awareness and purpose.

Synopsis: This is dark comedy at its depressing best, or at least that's how it begins and maintains through most of the movie. Yes this is truly a future world without any reason to exist. In the future scheme of things only productivity is valued, individual pursuit of excellence, friendship, love and anything else worthwhile you may think of no longer holds any meaning. We have become rats in a maze and nothing more. The loss of meaning, the understated confusion and the thinly guised desperation simple exudes from the screen. Laid out before us is a society in utter pain and that pain is exquisitely displayed on the face of the film's star, Zach Galifianakis. He is a man about to explode, literally, which is what people do when they can no longer stand living in a world with no meaning. Our hero has reached the point of critical mass and realizes that he must either break free and discover personal happiness or explode. It isn't easy in a society that has all but lost the ability to look outside the box and act independently but he must try or die.

Critique: `Visioneer' is quite a unique movie and definitely not something for anyone in search of a light hearted, unchallenging viewing experience. This film has an uncanny ability to push a lot of emotional buttons most viewers would not want to be pushed. The heavy emotional angst dealt with in the film will slowly but surely begin to be felt by the audience and trigger a personal reaction to the storyline. Not only will you begin to question whether or not you're really happy, you'll begin to examine to what extent your own personal limitations prevent you from changing things for the better. Maybe I'm giving the film way too much credit, but it certainly elicited some strong responses from me.

Despite what I've already said about the almost tangible angst emoted by the film and my strong emotional reaction to it I must also admit that 'Visioneer' has some discernible flaws; it pace is much too slow for most peoples taste and is a bit uneven at times. I was also somewhat disappointed by the ending. It much too upbeat, one of those happily ever after scenarios that just didn't fit with the overall message of the rest of the film.

It's definitely not for everyone but well worth a watch if you're so inclined.

As Jared Drake's "Visioneers" establishes its bleak portrait of the corporate world in a dystopian future, I loved the idea and premise behind the enterprise. Low-key, mundane, and loaded with banal monotony, the work day that Zach Galifianakis and his colleagues must endure as office drones is brought to life with exquisitely uncomfortable awkwardness. As the DVD cover suggests a marriage of Mike Judge's "Office Space" with Terry Gilliam's "Brazil", it seems a relatively apt comparison from the film world--but Ray Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451" also seems to be a relevant influence. But taking these great cues and starting with a winning hand, it soon becomes clear (especially in the film's second half) that the screenplay really doesn't know where to go. It's a shame, too--I was rooting for this to be a little undiscovered gem--but I started watching this with three friends and by the end, only I remained. Billed as a black comedy, anyone expecting a riotous and laugh-out-loud film should check their expectations before proceeding.

Galifianakis works for the renowned Jessups Corporation--headed with great comedic aplomb by D.W. Moffett. Preaching happy thoughts and productivity, the office has become a mind numbing existence. His discontent wife (the always reliable Judy Greer) seeks solace and comfort from a book on happiness and current fads to fill her empty days. And his brother (a spry James LeGros), recently released from prison, takes up residence in his backyard and is soon leading a movement to endorse freedom of expression. In a land where critical thought and feelings are frowned upon, it's not easy to get by. When people start to explode, literally, from boredom and repressed emotion--it serves as a catalyst to reevaluate life.

The office scenes can be quite amusing initially--although you have to be careful expressing boredom cinematically because sometimes it can come off as boring. There are frequently static scenes of characters staring expressionlessly into space for extended time periods. I really loved Greer and the skewering of media related culture. I'm a fan of all the principle actors, but after a bit--they seemed to get stranded. LeGros' sub-plot, in particular, builds in bizarre ways without much narrative clarity. The movie veers into a more realistic territory (the uncorrupted country) where our hero attempts to make an actual human connection with his dream girl. I didn't much care for this gentler world and don't feel it integrated particularly well with the rest of the film. The ending, for me, was completely unsatisfying as well. On the plus side, the film is different and some of the cast is appealing (those that aren't completely lifeless). On the negative side, pacing will be an issue to many. I didn't mind that as much as the film had no follow-through from its intriguing premise. A good start just sort of continuously wound down into nothingness for me. KGHarris, 6/11.