Sleep Dealer

This is an admirable, ambitious movie that suffers from some video-gamey CGI and lackluster writing. While not perfect, its "vision" of the future isn't so futuristic after all, and I have a hard time thinking of a movie that so righteously tackles America's dehumanization and exploitation of Mexican workers. It's a shame Alex Rivera hasn't made anything since. He'd be a good voice to listen to during the age of Trump.

Samples ideas from the Matrix and eXistenZ sure, but it molds them into something more vital. Based on Rivera's earlier experimental stuff, I get the impression he definitely felt the pressure to throw in some conventional elements (a chase scene, an unnecessary romance) but it doesn't dilute the discourse on labor and borders. I'm pretty content pretending this is the real remake of RoboCop, even though the body/labor/future/Fordism stuff is more pointed and obvious.

It tries to be thought provoking dystopian drama, but due to slow pacing and predictable story Sleep Dealer is literally sleep dealer. Not to mention lousy cgi.

The setting is interesting and allows for some decent social commentary. The story loses steam in the second half though, and since the characters aren't really that fascinating there's not a lot to keep your attention from then on. Still, it's always nice to see some dystopian scenarios, especially one that shows us a Mexican point of view and portrays America as this really closed-off, paranoid entity.

This movie totally saw Trump coming. SON OF A BITCH WHY DIDN'T YOU WARN US RIVERA

One of the more intriguing sci-fi concepts I've seen in years and explored in a satisfying way. I loved it.

Low budget CGI is annoying, but it's a clever concept. I liked it. Also the chick is smokin

2017/11/05

Feels more relevant today than it did back then. The concepts in this movie are key, and I argue the delivery should be given a little bit of slack. Would make for an amazing episodic television show.

As a person who sleeps on a fairly regular basis, I felt like I could really relate to this movie.

Very well written, but the low production values and lack of acting talent bothered me a bit too much.

An admirable failure. Nice ideas, hokey special effects, but ultimately missing something. Would've worked well as a tv series giving it time to stretch out and explore ideas rather than briefly touch on them and jump to something else

Interesting concept

Some few interesting concepts taken down by a silly story and lousy CGI.

Resourceful low-budget imagining of future relations with Our Neighbor to the South: the border closed, water rights protected by armed guard, anti-terrorist airstrikes as reality TV, and cheap Mexican labor by remote-control robotics (hence the coinage, "cybraceros"). The grainy, gritty digital image constantly pulls you back, and down, to present reality.

"It's a good story and is well-acted and nicely shot, but its pace is disappointingly plodding."