"Indigo Prophecy"

Author(s): Zgamer
Location: Eagle, ID

"Indigo Prophecy"

Directed by: James McTeigue
Written by: Josh Olsen and David Cage
Produced by: Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski and Joel Silver
Based on the video game created by David Cage and Quantic Dreams
Cinematography by: Bill Pope
Edited by: Zach Staenberg
Re-Orchestrated Score by: Dario Marianelli

Main Cast

Ryan Gosling as Lucas Kane
Rosario Dawson as Carla Valenti
Craig Robinson as Tyler Miles
Mark Wahlberg as Markus Kane
Rudy Youngblood as The Oracle
Rose McGowan as Samantha Malone
Tagline: Guilt is a chilling feeling

Tagline: "Guilt is a chilling feeling"

Synopsis: Manhattan is paralyzed with snow. A mysterious cold front has enveloped the city and is gradually dropping the temperature each day. As the sky continues to darken from the unceasing clouds, something peculiar has occurred in the city. In a small restaurant called Doc’s Diner, a bizarre murder has just taken place. The victim was killed in the diner’s bathroom by repeated stabs to the chest. There seems to be no motivation for this attack. He has no known enemies or connections with mobs or drug dealers. However, a suspect has been named and the events that will follow will change the lives of those involved forever.

The key player among these people is Lucas Kane, a technical expert for a small bank. He has no criminal past or known compulsions for murder, yet he knows he was the one who killed the man at the diner. But it wasn’t his choice. One minute he was sitting at one of the diner’s booths alone, the next his body begins moving on its own accord like a marionette. He could see his body move into the bathroom, cut weird symbols into his arm with a knife he was using and proceed to stab some man washing his hands, but he could do nothing to stop it. Lucas knows some outside source possessed him to do the act, but he has no logical way to explain it. There is hope though. Reports soon emerge of similar bizarre murders being committed in the city, each with the same symbol cut into the murderer’s arm. Along with this, Lucas begins seeing visions of a Mayan Oracle who is plaguing his mind with images of death and horror. Lucas’s only hope now is to find the link between these events and clear the names of all involved.

However, many obstacles stand in Lucas’s way. Among them are detectives Carla Valenti and Tyler Miles, who have been ordered to bring Lucas into custody by any means necessary. These two both have there own problems to deal with though. Carla is a smart but overconfident perfectionist who couldn’t be more convinced Lucas is a psychotic lunatic while Tyler is a pessimistic but kind hearted man who would prefer to finish the case fast so he can save his relationship with his girlfriend Samantha. There’s also Lucas’s older brother Markus, a catholic priest whose beliefs cause him to be torn with the decision of whether to turn Lucas in or not. And unknown to Lucas, The Oracle from his visions lurks in the shadows, using his supernatural power to plot Lucas’s demise.

But as the day progresses and new details begin to emerge, Lucas, his brother and the two detectives become drawn into a new dilemma that goes beyond a few murders. Rumors begin to circulate the city, which speak of a child of destiny. This Indigo Child, as she’s called, is said to be the one who holds the true knowledge of the meaning of life. For thousands of years, two ancient clans have fought to find this child. The Orange Clan, whose harbinger is The Oracle, wish to use the child to maintain their control of the world’s governments. The Purple Clan, led by a race of artificial intelligences, want to use her secret to exterminate all human life and rule Earth. But whoever it is that eventually finds the child, her secret eventually must be told. If it does not reach the ears of another person, the continually expanding cold front will engulf the planet. So it is now up to those four people to make a choice. Will they go the lengths to save the child from the wrong people or will they simply wait for the cold to freeze over their corpses?

What the Press would say:

Suspense, surrealism, mystery and a bit of gravity defying action. That’s what you should prepare yourself for this stunning atmospheric wonder from the director of V For Vendetta. This by far one of James McTeigue most ambitious films yet. Not only is it an adaptation of an acclaimed but low selling video game, but it is also one of the most bizarre stories he has done yet (which is saying a lot given his and the Wachowski brothers’ track record). Fortunately for us, McTeigue succeeds on all fronts. With an engaging but thoughtfully paced story, sympathetic characters and a wonderful understanding of atmosphere and mood, McTeigue has created another triumph that will sure earn him critical and commercial success.

So what is the film’s secret? Bill Pope’s stunning cinematography? Dario Marianelli’s beautiful score? The snappy split screen segments that show how the focus is not just on one person (a nice homage to the original game)? Well, if there’s anything that gives this movie a big benefit, it’s the style to which McTeigue approaches the film. The colors have a beautiful yet grainy quality, mystery surrounds the city like the snow that continually falls on the streets and each scene is approached with quality and energy (a particularly memorable scene involves a getaway in which Lucas tries to escape the cops on foot through a traffic filled street). McTeigue’s handling of the film’s surreal feel with the intense action really creates a great atmosphere that puts the audience into this extreme situation. However, he knows how to handle things when the action slows and the drama begins, as the relationship and interactions between the characters feel credible and real. The script, written by Josh Olsen and the game’s original director/writer David Cage, is a thing of beauty. The characters are all well defined, the dialogue feels natural and the film flows at a well thought out pace similar to V For Vendetta’s, never too fast or too slow. Every moment of the film, from the beautiful opening sequence to the intense finale (an improvement from the original game’s ok ending), is visually arresting and done with quality.

What will stun people the most though is the quality of the acting in Indigo Prophecy. All the cast compliment the expertly written characters perfectly. Gosling excels as main character Lucas, a loner inevitably drawn into a conspiracy beyond his control. He hits all the right notes in his portrayal, underplaying his character effectively so he is still the center of focus, but doesn’t distract the audience from the actions going on behind him. On a side note, Gosling can really kick butt (he obviously did quite a bit of training for his hand-to-hand combat scenes). But where is a strong man without an equally strong woman? Dawson is Gosling’s match as the over-dedicated detective Carla Valenti, with all the charisma and inner strength that makes her character a role model to women cops everywhere. Dawson surprises everyone by creating a very deep character, who has her own personality, desires and fears (the scene where Carla tries to fight her claustrophobia is intense!) The other main characters all play their parts well, from Mark Wahlberg’s mature take on priest Markus to the surprisingly deep dramatic turn by “The Office’s” Craig Robinson as the street wise pessimist Tyler. Even Youngblood, whose part is minor in comparison to the others, is effectively foreboding as the mysterious and powerful Oracle.

Indigo Prophecy is a film that needs to be seen. It has such a sense of wonder, mystery and suspense that all who watch it will easily be drawn into this alternate world.

Awards Possibilities

Best Picture
Best Director (James McTeigue)
Best Adapted Screenplay (Josh Olsen and David Cage)
Best Actor (Ryan Gosling)
Best Actress (Rosario Dawon)
Best Supporting Actor (Craig Robinson)
Best Supporting Actor (Mark Wahlberg)
Best Cinematography
Best Art/Set Direction
Best Editing
Best Sound Editing
Best Original Score