We Can Retell It For You Wholesale.
10 Episodes. Starring: Bryan Cranston, Greg Kinnear, Mireille Enos, Holliday Grainger, Geraldine Chaplin, Jack Reynor, Benedict Wong, Terrence Howard, Anna Paquin, Timothy Spall, Juno Temple, Janelle Monae, Annalise Basso, Maura Tierney, Vera Farmiga, Mel Rodriguez, Jason Mitchell & Steve Buscemi. Executive Producer: Bryan Cranston.
Together in 'Electric Dreams' the wise, cult-following, gospel words of foreshadowing fable, science-fiction forefather Philip K. Dick have a modern day 'Black Mirror' held up against them to reflect todays relationship between technology and humanity. Or albeit the lack of any in todays trend driven, swiped aside age of a social-media obsessed millennial generation in need of a real refresh. Sometimes you can't look forward without going back. And like the Tokyo neon like futuristic cities landscaped here, this Western world could learn from the Far East or the cyberpunk they and Dick inspire that the best worlds stretch the ideas of innovation but are still so steeped in the inspiration of tradition. It's no coincidence that this author wrote these decades in the making ahead of their time stories almost half a century ago. Philip K. Dick is to sci-fi what minerals are to water. P.K.D. is this genres DNA. Don't see the strand? Have you ever seen 'Total Recall', 'Minority Report', 'The Adjustment Bureau' or 'A Scanner Darkly'? Or read 'Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep' that became the other sci-fi masterpiece that made Harrison Ford and gave us a an up to date, stunning sequel and last years most groundbreaking blockbuster in 'Blade Runner 2049'? Well they and the real life ideas they have inspired (talking about the swipe aside generation K. Dick might have actually, inadvertently birthed it to the masses with 'Minority Report') would be nothing without Philip's ideas and words from the click, clack of his typewriter. His ideas verge between scary and prophecy. Utopia vs dystopia. His writing shadowing and warning. Just look at Amazon's Nazi alternate reality of 'The Man In The High Castle'. And after that shows success ten episodes of a new 'Electric Dreams' series now give us the individual short stories of this game-changing writer by the chapter. Executive produced by 'Breaking Bad's' Bryan Cranston and breaking all sorts of talents new and old, these dreams feature an electric, eclectic cast including Steve Buscemi, Greg Kinnear, Terrence Howard, Vera Farmiga, Timothy Spall, Juno Temple and the 'Archandroid' herself Janelle Monae. Pinch us as this blade running show runner is quite the spark.
Plug in and watch this shows series any way you like, as these ten individual stories all connected by K. Dick's futuristic and present day themes past are original and no one two the same in their own right. You could start at ten and count your way down. Or watch these episodes like dialling a phone number. But lets take a look at this anthologies chapters in numerical order. Episode 1: 'The Hood Maker' starring 'My Cousin Rachel' and 'The Finest Hours' standout Holliday Grainger is exactly the mind under surveillance matter story we need right now, with internet companies like Facebook trying to eat all our data and put it on other peoples plates too. Forget free speech how about free thought (Oh Hai Mark!)? Whilst the earth found highlight, 'The Impossible Planet' starring rising British 'Detroit' actor Jack Reynor, 'Martian', 'Doctor Strange' and 'Avengers: Infinity War' star Benedict Wong, Charlie Chaplin's fourth daughter Geraldine and an android straight out of the household of Robin Williams' 'Bicentennial Man' might just be the sweetest sci-fi story of the whole series. Whilst Timothy Spall's 'The Commuter' is by far the superior of the series...if albeit the most grounded in reality straight-forward. Save the lost, idyllic paradise he finds a stop and a half away from his usual train destination. Even the Hogwarts kids from 'Harry Potter' had less trouble getting on board. Steve Buscemi's 'Crazy Diamond' is exactly that...something weird amongst the rough of a nature nurtured by tech and humanoid pigs (can we sniff out some truffling symbolism Orwell?). Whilst the 'Real Life' V.R. interchanging of 'Empire's' Terrence Howard and Rogue actress Anna Paquin (another of this collections classic chapters) will have you guessing beyond the end like any good fill of Phil. Is this real life? Because this is all more than just a fantasy. This intelligence is everything and anything but artificial.
Creative controller Cranston cranks up the second half of this book of stories with the heralded 'Human Is', that with shades of Johnny Depp's 'The Astronaut's Wife' or Oscar Isaac in 'Annihilation' questions whether a returning husband is the man he looks and say he is. Or an alien taking his identity under the skin like that roach from 'Men In Black' who wanted sugar with water (..."MORE"). And whether any of that actually matters for better or worse. Whilst speaking of husbands coming home as changed men the Greg Kinnear and Mireille Enos suburban drama 'The Father Thing' is hiding haunting horrors outside the house. And after this living room watch that will have you peeled on the edge of your couch like a potato this series finishes strong, with us wanting for more. 'Autofac' starring breakout young actress you'd never guess is actually British Juno Temple and 'Hidden Figures' and 'Moonlight' star, let alone groundbreaking singer, already with an android obsession, Janelle Monae turns the page into an even more stellar story. Whilst Annalise Basso breaks out alongside 'E.R.' and 'The Affair' star Maura Tierney for the anything but 'Safe and Sound' school days. These 'Dreams' save the almost best for last too with 'K.A.O.' AKA 'Kill All Others' (subtle...we know). Starring 'Bates Motel's' Vera Farmiga, 'Straight Outta Compton' Eazy-E, Jason Mitchell and the real star of this show, Mel Rodriguez in subliminal and literal messages of paranoia of those in power and what the future will give us and take away from us hanging right in front of us. In plain sight, hiding behind our mongered fear to not end up the same as the people others will sell out just so they don't end up down the same river. This will stream through our collective conciousnesses like flood water through sand bags as we are haymaker hit the same with all this weight of wonder. It's a new world out here Huxley and it may only be for the brave. But in a way as uneasily unreal as it seems we can't wait to see what happens next. When it comes to this genre if you don't know Philip (whose influence would be so proud of these inspired incarnations and interpretations) then when it comes to science fiction you don't know Dick. Now we'll be counting sheep like androids until the next time we can dream electric. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'Black Mirror', 'Blade Runner 2049', 'The Man In The High Castle'.
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