From The World of John Wick: Ballerina marks quite a few firsts in the John Wick franchise. Not only is it the first female-led project in the Wickverse, but it’s the first film not to be helmed by longtime John Wick director Chad Stahelski. Ballerina is directed by Len Wiseman, who’s best known for creating the cult horror/action classic Underworld. Underworld features most of the same hallmarks as Ballerina: A lovely yet lethal female assassin serves a secret society and soon finds herself going from hunter to hunted due to a series of events, with the major caveat being that werewolves and vampires are involved. But another project that Wiseman was involved with is the 2012 remake of Total Recall.
The Total Recall remake draws inspiration from its 1990 predecessor, which starred Arnold Schwarzenegger, and the short story “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale” by Phillip K. Dick. Douglas Quaid (Colin Farrell) is being plagued by dreams of a mysterious woman (Jessica Biel) and feeling unsatisfied with his life. On the suggestion of his friend Harry (Bokeem Woodbine), he goes to Rekall, which implants artificial memories into its customers’ heads. But when Quaid asks to be a secret agent, it turns out that he actually was a secret agent…and that his wife, Lori (Kate Beckinsale), is a double agent herself. This leads to an adrenaline-filled chase as Quaid starts to question how much of his memories are real, and what’s false.
The ‘Total Recall’ Remake Is a Solid Sci-Fi Action Movie Enhanced by a Great Cast
The 2012 version of Total Recall features more than a few differences from the 1990 version; where the latter took place on Mars, the remake takes place on an Earth that’s been ravaged by chemical warfare, leading to a conflict between the United Federation of Britain (the current governing body) and the Colony (the more ravaged parts of the world.) But despite its effort to separate itself from the original film, the Total Recall remake received less-than-flattering reviews, as most critics felt that it was a subpar version of the 1990 film. But Total Recall is at least worth a watch due to its action sequences, which utilize future technology to great effect. A chase scene where Quaid and Melina, the mystery woman from his dreams, are trying to stay one step ahead of Lori involves electromagnetically powered cars that “fly”. Another standout moment features a 360-degree shot where Quaid takes out a squad of highly trained policemen in seconds; like the car chase scene, it’s intense and choreographed immensely well thanks to Wiseman and cinematographer Paul Cameron.
Total Recall also boasts a cast that’s making the most out of the material they’re given. The standouts are Farrell, Beckinsale, and Bryan Cranston as the United Federation of Britain’s leader, Cohaagen. Farrell plays Quaid as appropriately confused and tormented throughout a great chunk of the film, which feels like the right way to react upon learning you used to be a secret agent. Beckinsale is no slouch herself, as she flips from a seemingly loving wife to a cold, calculating hunter. And Cranston makes the most of his limited screentime as Cohaagen, delivering his lines with the same fiery intensity that he brought to Breaking Bad. Add in cameos from John Cho and Underworld alum Bill Nighy, and that’s enough talent to paper over the weaker parts of the story.
Len Wiseman’s Director’s Cut of ‘Total Recall’ Adds More Nuance – and a Surprise Cameo
Most of the criticism of the Total Recall remake stemmed from the fact that it didn’t dig as deeply into the themes of identity that the 1990 version brought up. But most people haven’t seen Wiseman’s director’s cut of the film, which actually does feature those themes. The Director’s Cut features a deeper role for Melina, as it reveals that she’s the daughter of Nighy’s revolutionary Matthias, and a far more ambiguous ending that’s in line with the original Total Recall. But the biggest difference features a scene where Quaid learns about his “real” identity, Cole Hauser. In the director’s cut, Hauser is played by Ethan Hawke, who had his face altered in addition to his memories. It’s a stark difference that showcases that Quaid and Hauser are two different people, in more ways than one.
Len Wiseman would later discuss the director’s cut of Total Recall, saying that he knew it was a possibility: “I’m not saying anything that’s unknown, but movies are always cut down and there’s a lot of complexity within the film that is not always widely accepted by the general audience, which is just a reality.” While the director’s cut of Total Recall might not be what’s currently playing on Netflix, the theatrical cut is still a solid sci-fi action thriller with great performances that’s worth a Sunday watch.
Total Recall is available to stream on Netflix.
