2081

2081 | based on Kurt Vonnegut's "Harrison Bergeron" (Video On Demand)

I first read "Harrison Bergeron" in my ninth grade English class seven years ago and have re-read it every couple of years since. When I saw the mindblowing trailer for "2081" last year I could not wait to see the film. After months of waiting the DVD was finally released. To say that it did not disappoint would be an understatement of epic proportions. I was blown away by the film, easily one of the best book-to-film adaptations I have seen. Vonnegut's films have generally been adapted terribly in the past, and this is probably the first one I've seen that really works. Every bit of the brilliance of Vonnegut's story shines through in the film, and the few departures from the source material are basically just tweaks to modernize the story and ground it a bit more in reality.

It's short (about 25 min), but to have made it any longer would have required adding original story material and would have adulterated Vonnegut's beautifully concise story. There was a feature length adaptation of Harrison Bergeron in the 90's that tried this (starring Christopher Plummer and Sean Astin) quite unsuccessfully. Even with a great cast and much bigger budget, Harrison Bergeron did not work as a feature film. But at 25 minutes, 2081 thrives as an entirely self-contained narrative set in a fully-realized dystopian world. It is a truly beautiful film and was obviously a labor of love for the filmmakers. There are no cut corners to clue you off that this is an indie film, and the production values rival those of any big-budget theatrical feature.

The cast is pitch-perfect. Armie Hammer - who is currently getting Oscar buzz for his role in The Social Network - headlines as Harrison Bergeron. He could not have better cast in the role. Rounding out the stellar ensemble, you'll notice quite a few other familiar faces of fantastic character actors that everyone will recognize but even if you don't know their names The casting truly could not have been more perfect.

The score is beautifully performed by the superlative Kronos Quartet (Requiem for a Dream) and is easily the best that I have heard in a short film. Seriously. Epic. It puts to shame all but the most epic Hans Zimmer-style big screen feature scores. I have seriously not enjoyed a score this much since "The Dark Knight." Listen to the trailer for a sample if you don't believe me. WHEN will this soundtrack be available on iTunes????

The visuals are mesmerizing, dark, and beautiful. Top notch in every regard. This film could not be more relevant to the national conversation today. I still can't believe this is a short film. Are short films supposed to be this good?

First time director Chandler Tuttle is most definitely a guy to watch.

C

N this is a SHORT movie just 30 minutes. Adapting one of Kurt Vonnegut's "Harrison Bergeron" novel, 2081 shows us a dystopian future where the US brings equal rights to a dramatic conclusion. In essence, if you're brainy, fit, able-bodied you have to cover up, wear limiters, weights and other hindering things to make you no better [or more equal] than others. This has come about following a change in the US constitution by a radical group. It's clear that this regime is fascistic in every sense of the term. Everyone in effect is handicapped in some way. It takes Orwell's idea of control to extremes. I'm sure it's NOT a commentary on able bodied vs equal opportunity rights. I believe it's about how we submit to control of Government with the best intent, but the ones in power do not control others from the idea that this bizarre equality is right. In essence, there will not be any revolution as thought control is used to subdue those who think outside the box or challenge control. Think along the lines of Logon's Run, 1984, V for Vendetta etc. It's a horrible control mechanism in use for a more scheming end. In essence, the society repeats a base level of non-ingenuity. Bizarrely the movie has only 2-3 sets, a house, outside the theatre and inside the auditorium of the theatre. It suggests that by our differences we each have our own beauty and strengths. It's our differences and our appreciation of others that makes us whole. The movie ends on a very down note. The viewer is lead on a journey of hope and a father [I believe] once again sees his son who is public enemy number one dance on stage. The viewer is then saddened when his father instantly and forcibly has to forget what he had remembered at the back of his memory a few seconds before. However, he still has the emotion. Rather than having a cheesy one action makes revolution, we are left with a glimmer of hope that maybe defiance and remembrance might make a different future from others that seem to think there's something wrong.

The movie lasts about 30 minutes. If you're after something short to set off an evening of harder sci-fi, you won't find this short movie hard to beat. It's a thinker's movie with little action. It states, when you give up control for a better future, just make sure you give up the rights you are comfortable on loosing. Interestingly the soundtrack is excellently played by the Kronos Quartet (if you remember the haunting tunes from Requiem for a Dream).