Virtuosity

Starring: Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Kelly Lynch, Stephen Spinella, William Forsythe, Louise Fletcher, William Fitchner, Costas Mandylor, Kevin J. O'Connor, Kaley Cuoco, Traci Lords
Directed by: Brett Leonard
Rating: R
Genre: Action, Science Fiction
1995

Times Seen:
Tim: 3

Summary: A disgraced former cop (Denzel Washington) is enlisted to track a computer simulation Russell Crowe) made up of the personalities of hundreds of serial killers, who was brought into the real world.

Review:

Tim: I don't think Virtuosity gets the acclaim it deserves, especially as time hasn't been all that kind to it. I watched this movie in 2021, after a few decades having not seen it. I really enjoyed the movie in the 1990s. It definitely seems dated today, but it's still a rousing science fiction film that also works as a cop thriller. It paints an interesting picture of the current and (expected) future state of technology looked like through the lens of the mid-1990s. People may criticize this film, but I'm unabashedly a fan.

It certainly helps that the movie pits Denzel Washington against Russell Crowe. That pairing is fantastic and it's still the biggest attraction for me. I've long been a major fan of Washington's work. While he does tend to play many of these similar kinds of roles, he's just so good at it. He's very strong here- he's believable as an ex-cop and current inmate. He projects strength, intelligence, and yet, something very sad and vulnerable about him. He is able to feel believable as a man who has experienced great tragedy and has lost everything dear to him. It's what Washington does- he elevates a character who could have been forgettable. In his hands, Parker Barnes is memorable and enjoyable. This movie also features a tremendous performance by Russell Crowe as Sid 6.7. Crowe is unhinged in a relentlessly gleeful performance. He makes a superb adversary for Washington. Crowe has this ability to tap into something sinister that grounds his eccentric performance. Even though he's purposely over-the-top, his performance never feels cartoonish. He has an edge to his performance that makes you take Sid seriously.

The supporting cast is decent, but they feel small next to the incredible performances of Washington and Crowe. Kelly Lynch gives a wooden performance that I had many problems with. I liked seeing William Forsythe and William Fitchner, but neither gets to do too much. I was shocked to discover Kaley Cuoco was the little girl. That was fun and something that would have meant nothing to me in the mid-90s. Stephen Spinella was solid in his role.

The visual effects look very dated by today's standards, but I clearly remember watching this movie, probably in 1996, and having no problems with the visuals. They were impressive at the time. That makes a big difference, because the heart of the story is your typical cop vs. serial killer story. It is fairly formulaic. The difference comes with the science fiction aspects, which gives Sid 6.7 a whole new twist. I really enjoyed this aspect of the film. You don't often see movies like this, that are both wholly unashamed science fiction films AND fairly effective crime thrillers. I liked the pairing of these different genres and it creates something that felt refreshing when I first saw the movie. There may have been other similar movies, but it certainly didn't feel redundant. Even today, decades later, it still feels like a fun way to spend your time. I really don't understand the people who didn't like this film. Sure, it's a bit generic once you get below the surface, but it's surface style is something to behold.

There's definitely movies that I would consider a "guilty pleasure", but this isn't one of them. I have no guilt for liking Virtuosity. You get to see Denzel Washington seeking redemption by hunting down a serial killer whose personality is made up of 200 criminal personalities. That's kooky and different and fun. I'm still convinced, even decades later, this is a really good film.

Rating 1-10

Tim's Rating: 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Deja Vu, Out of Time