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The Thirteenth Floor (1999)

Rate: 8
Viewed: 3/22

3/22: Forget The Matrix...The Thirteenth Floor is the real deal.

Both are similar films, but the latter is much more accessible and has a stronger plot. When something happens, it may not make sense for a minute or two but will be cleared up which is cool.

It's also neo-noir in nature with great cinematography. If you thought that Douglas Hall's house looked familiar, it should be because that's the one got featured a lot in Blade Runner. A residential dwelling that's located in Los Angeles, the Ennis House's design is based on ancient Maya temples.

I've never seen Craig Bierko in anything from the 90's. After looking over his résumé, he had a small part here and there. Good-looking, he's excellent in The Thirteenth Floor and should've been cast in leading roles more often. Dennis Haysbert is perfect as the detective. Vincent D'Onofrio occasionally overacts. Everybody else is fine.

The most interesting concept is the setting that primarily takes place in simulation when I thought it was the real world the whole time. Then, unlike The Truman Show, it turns out that there's another simulation within it. Hence, there are three worlds going on at once, and it takes some work to orient myself in terms of which character is in which world.

All in all, unfairly ripped apart by the critics, The Thirteenth Floor is an impressive sci-fi neo-noir picture.

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