Directed by Tarsem Singh (The Fall, The Cell, Mirror Mirror) and starring Ben Kingsley (Gandhi, Shutter Island, Schindler's List, Bugsy, Hugo), Ryan Reynolds (Woman in Gold, The Captive, Green Lantern, X-Men Origins: Wolverine), Natalie Martinez (End of Watch, Broken City), Matthew Goode (The Imitation Game, A Single Man, Match Point) and Michelle Dockery (Downton Abbey, Anna Karenina, Non-Stop).
117 mins; Thriller 12+
A highly successful and extremely wealthy elderly businessman, Damian (Ben Kingsley), who lives in an opulent apartment in New York is diagnosed with a terminal illness and is given just months to live. He tries to connect with his daughter Claire (Michelle Dockery) who resents him for not being there for her when she was growing up. With nothing to lose he contacts a company offering "shedding" services. He pays a lot of money and undergoes a procedure whereby his mind inhabits the body of a younger man, Martin (Ryan Reynolds).
The technology means he needs to take a daily pill to stave off withdrawl symtoms and nightmares/memories of the younger man's mind. He then realises that the procedure and company that performed it are quite what they seem. He contacts Martin's wife Madeline (Natalie Martinez), whereupon the audience is brought on a thrill ride where it is unclear who is chasing who, and who knows what.
An interesting take on a storyline that has been used to various degrees in films such as Face/Off with John Travolta and Nicholas Cage, Source Code with Jake Gyllenhaal and Michelle Monaghan, Ghost with Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore, Big with Tom Hanks,...
But this one is different and has a nice twist at the end. While there is little character development in Self/Less, this psychological thriller keeps the mind exercised throughout as Damian tries to shut down the operation of which he himself availed; it seems his ruthless streak has been compromised for a conscience.
