"Self'less" (movie critique)

SELF/LESS
movie poster

The Travelling Toe and a trusting  friend went to see the movie "Self/Less" because of another friend's recommendation and we were glad we did.

The plot of this movie centers on Damian Hale, played by Ben Kingsley.  He is a billionaire real estate magnet (reference that red-headed dude in the news) who is ruthless in his business dealings and personal life
.  

Ben Kingsley

He is estranged from his one daughter, played Michelle Dockery, who is an environmentalist and detests her father's ruthless behavior.

Michelle Dockery

Damian is diagnosed with terminal cancer.  There is no hope for any type of recovery.  He somehow is referred to Professor Albright, (played by Matthew Goode), who has created a radical medical procedure called "shedding".  How it is achieved is taking the ill person's consciousness and transferring it to a "supposedly" artificially grown healthy body.  It of course is none reversible.

Matthew Goode

Damian seeing no other options on the horizon, makes the decision to have the procedure done.  A host body is selected for Damian (Ryan Reynolds).  Professor Albright tells Damian he must have a public death to ensure that the center's medical team responds first to bring his body back to the lab.  Plus  it will confirm to all that Damian has actually died.  

Ryan Reynolds

Side Note:  As this part of the story takes place in New Orleans, it looks  like Damian has his last meal and a heart attack at Brennan's.

While he is "dying", he is immediately transferred to the science center and the procedure is completed.  When Damian wakes up in a new body, he must learn to walk and then re-build his strength.  Damian is now called Edward Hale.  After he is strong enough, Albright has him moved into a luxurious apartment in New Orleans.  But Albright tells Edward that he must take the prescribed medication at the assigned times.  The medication is to stop hallucinations which are the side effects of the procedure.

Derek Luke

Edward begins a new life in New Orleans.  He makes friends with a neighbor, Anton (Derek Luke) who introduces Edward to the various pleasures of New Orleans.  

But Edward misses taking his meds a couple of times and he begins to have hallucinations of another life of a home with a women and a sick child.  

When Edward seeks help from  Albright, he dismisses Edward's concerns and tells him that he needs to to continue taking the meds and that a change of scenery would help as well.  Albright arranges for Edward to move to Hawaii.  But Edward has other ideas.  He is able to ditch the team tracking him and he takes off to find the landmark and the people in his dream.  

Dear Readers, I must leave the story there so you can discover for yourself if Edward finds the truth of who he really is, who the people are in the dream and if anyone is really who they say there are.  As Mulder always said in the "X-Files" ....."the truth is out there"!

Yes it is a somewhat predictable plot but there are also a few surprises along the way.  The story kept us captivated and we had to see how it ended.

The Travelling Toe gives this movie 2 middle toes up with a side order of those famous New Orleans treat, beignets..




Disclaimer:  The Travelling Toe is not a professional critic and any opinions expressed are for entertainment purposes only.