NDSU Spectrum: Movie review
‘6th Day’ asks moral questions and blows stuff up
By JOHN HANSEN
Dec. 1, 2000
A filmgoer couldn’t be blamed if they experience déjà vu all over again during “The 6th Day.”
But while there have been action films about copied human beings before – even one starring Arnold Schwarzenegger — there’s never been one that’s quite as fun (or funny) as this one.
“The 6th Day” manages to maintain a balance between thoughtful speculation on the morals of cloning and all the classic Schwarzenegger cliches like shoot-em-ups and witty one-liners.
If you want to develop views on human cloning–a technology that would’ve been pure sci-fi ten years ago, but is now front-page material (with scientists successfully cloning a sheep and mapping DNA strands)–this film will give you plenty to think about in the first hour.
The second hour is devoted more to gunfights, daring helicopter rescues and amusing parting shots. But it’s all good.
The film opens with scenes establishing the happy home life of Adam Gibson (Schwarzenegger) with his wife and daughter. Don’t cringe–although Ah-nuld has developed a reputation as a bad actor, he’s rather charming in these scenes.
At work, Gibson trades a piloting assignment with his friend Hank (Michael Rapaport), who is subsequently killed by a terrorist (whose motives are revealed later in the film). But Replacement Technologies, particularly their illegal human cloning branch, doesn’t know about the switch, so they clone Gibson by mistake. Gibson comes home to find himself celebrating his birthday with family and friends.
Cormac and Marianne Wibberley have delivered a solid, if standard, action script. This film can’t resist cloning humor (lines like “I changed my mind,” repeated resurrection of the bad guys, creepy-looking life-size dolls and cars that drive themselves), and it’s to the film’s credit.
The cast is a cut above standard action fare. Schwarzenegger gets to act with himself in a couple scenes, and they are quite powerful, although the temptation to giggle is always there. Robert Duvall adds a touch of classiness as Griffin Weir, a humane scientist who loves his wife more than his work — a nice contrast from the standard “mad scientist.” Michael Rooker plays a great gruff-voiced baddie. And as blue-haired henchman Talia, Sarah Wynter’s sleek looks bring to mind the replicants in “Blade Runner.” (Speaking of which, the RePet company which clones dead cats and dogs is reminiscent of the mechanical pet company from Philip K. Dick’s novel.)
Director Roger Spottiswoode moves the film at a fast clip, but it’s always clear what’s going on–that’s more than can be said of the similarly-themed and utterly confusing “Total Recall.”
“The 6th Day” proves that Schwarzenegger can still churn out a good potboiler that both action and sci-fi fans will enjoy.
Title: “The 6th Day”
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Rapaport, Tony Goldwyn, Michael Rooker, Sarah Wynter, Robert Duvall
Written by: Cormac and Marianne Webberley
Director: Roger Spottiswoode
Grade: A-