Branded

I have a great deal of respect for message films in that they can really give one food for thought. Of course, it does help if you believe in what they are trying to 'sell' you. As with the case of "Branded", the premise or message, in this case, was spot on, however the implementation definitely needed polishing.

Set in a dystopian future, a dark-minded journey into a surreal society takes place where corporate brands have unleashed a 'monsterous' global conspiracy to get inside our minds and keep the population disillusioned, dependent, passive, and complacent. One man's, Misha Galkin (Ed Stoppard) passion to unlock the truth behind the conspiracy will lead an epic battle with the hidden forces that really control our world. His girlfriend, Abby Gibbons (LeeLee Sobieski) tries to understand him when he confides in her of what's really going on, but she believes that he just needs help. Both have come from the advertising industry, but Abby just believes that it's pure manipulation through ads is all it is. Her uncle, Bob Gibbons (Jeffrey Tambor), like most in the industry, have been busy 'drinking the cool-aid', but Misha knows better and is out to prove it in whatever way he can.

Others to round out the cast are Ingeborga Dapkunaite as Dubcek, and Max von Sydow as Marketing Guru.

This was very strangely written and directed by Jamie Bradshaw and Alexander Doulerain. The strange part was more in the writing. As mentioned above, the premise of the film was spot on-- Madison Avenue scum manipulating and essentially brain-washing us so as to conform us to a world that they want us to believe so as to make profits galore no matter whether it hurts us or not, has so much juicy material for a great, creative screenwriter, that I'm surprised by the outcome of the script. I'm not sure what these guys were on, or how much they had to drink, but the screenplay was all  over the place, it was so over-the-top that one couldn't get past the weirdness to even get into the premise. These guys' direction was as well as could be expected, but they really should have gotten someone else to write it. The first hour went so slow, it could practically lull you to sleep.

'Big brother' movies have been peppered throughout Hollywood's history, but when you are trying to get the audience's attention on a topic you feel is so important, I think it would be better to put it in terms for your audience to understand, or you'll just lose them at the gate.

Out of 4 stars: 1.5                         Rated: R                       106min.