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Final Cut might seem to be a title that goes with a gory slasher film, but this is not the case.
The director Omar Naim offers the audience a sublime science fiction tale that does not transcends beyond humanity, as it remains very real and authentic to which the audience can relate.
Yet, the film never becomes predictable or boring, as it keeps the audience trying to think ahead while keeping the audience tied in suspense to what is presented on the screen.
This film is warmly recommended, as it never received the attention it deserves in the theaters.
In a possible future, science has created a way to implant an organic recorder, a so-called Zoe implant, which stores all the sounds and images that the person experiences from birth until death.
This implant is inserted into the person before conception, and the parents will not inform the child about the device until a mature age when the person can deal with the psychological stress that this device might generate.
The memories then become accessible for future generations and can be accessed in a similar manner in which a database of information is.
However, the information is left to a person called a cutter who edits the memories in a manner desired by the deceased’s family members.
The Cutter has a code that they must maintain:
1. A Cutter cannot give away or sell any Zoe footage.
2. A Cutter cannot have a Zoe implant.
3. A Cutter cannot mix Zoe footage from different lives for a Rememory.
Alan W. Hakman (Robin Williams) is such a cutter who only works alone.
A traumatic experience from Alan's childhood appears to continue to induce strong feelings of guilt within him.
It seems as if the internal guilt that he suffers from has led him to become a cutter who edits people's memories.
Through his job he can emphasize on the good and pleasant memories of the deceased while shouldering other’s sins.
His success has led him to be hired by individuals that want him edit the most horrific cases that contain some truly disturbing memories, memories that most people would turn their head away from, as they are disgusting and vile.
Nonetheless, Alan becomes their sin-eater who removes their sins from their memories, and provides a commemorative service to people who want to experience the positive side of the departed person despite past transgressions.
Alan merely exists, without judgment or prejudice, as he edits away the nastiness of other people's lives.
He does not do much besides working and looking into other people’s lives.
A female friend, played by Mira Sorvino, tells him that he must get a life of his own, and not try to live through others.
It might suggest that Alan is into voyeurism, but this notion is never elaborated.
Instead Alan has a constant weary expression on his face as if he held a greater wisdom.
Yet, Alan never comes across as arrogant, but rather he displays an affectionate sympathy and deeper understanding for other’s feelings.
A growing organization is raising their voice against the company that makes the Zoe implants.
The members have strange and bizarre tattoos, which indicate that they are against the idea of Zoe implants.
The leader of the organization, a former cutter named Fletcher (James Caviezel), seems to be very interested in Alan's newest assignment, as it might be a way for Fletcher to hurt the company that produces the Zoe implants.
This builds up a suspenseful angle to the story, but never becomes the main theme of the film, as Alan continues to deal with his internal guilt.
Initially, the film might seem to be a suspenseful science fictions tale, however, as the story unfolds it turns into a philosophical science fiction drama.
Final Cut offers an interesting cinematic experience with a very appealing concept, which intentionally leaves the audience with the purpose of triggering deeper contemplation.
Robin Williams’s performance is remarkable, as it brings a face with authentic weariness and concern, which projects the feelings that Alan might be feeling inside to the audience.
Omar Naim does a wonderful job in both directing and writing the story, as he does not force an opinion on the audience, but lets the audience think for themselves in regards to the issues at hand.
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