Lions Gate to use satellite distribution system
A new Vancouver-made science-fiction movie starring Robin Williams is coming to theatres with a little high-tech wizardry of its own. Rather than being sent to theatres on clunky and expensive film reels, The Final Cut will be transmitted by satellite to 115 North American screens in 27 markets -- the first major Hollywood release to do so. However, the film, to be released Oct. 15, will not be seen in this form in Vancouver. The Final Cut -- which tells of computer chips that record a person's life, but can be edited of wrongdoing after death -- will be stored on computer hard drives and shown with digital projectors.
CanWest News Services, October 2

I would expect this will be commonplace before long. Not only are prints clunky and expensive, but they wear. Reels can even be mixed up.

I wonder, will we have to quit calling things film when there is no film involved?

The trailer for this looks pretty good. Williams (who can be very hit or miss with me) seems to be redirecting his career more towards darker tinged films, and I must say that I've found him to be quite good in the few I've seen.

Anyone caught an early screening? It's coming here on Friday and I might check it out if the buzz is good.

It's a good film - not great but good. A better premise than it was a realized production but well worth a look.

Casting-wise, I find it interesting that the film's three leads -- Robin Williams, Jim Caviezel and Mira Sorvino -- all seem to be actors of rather little dramatic range, but at least the characters they play all fit within that little range.

Interesting to see Caviezel (sporting a VERY fake moustache and beard) play someone associated with a group of "religious zealots" who oppose the work that Williams does -- especially since the zealots in question, while in some sense the "bad guys" of the film, seem to espouse the actual moral point of view of the film. At least, I do not get the impression that the film actually endorses what Williams does. Also cute to hear Williams ask if Caviezel is interested in his "soul", given the last major movie that Caviezel happened to be in.

There are some definitely nice moments, like when Williams shows Sorvino some of the "outtakes" from the memories he has edited. And I really, really like the production design, with the laptops and keyboards made of dark wood, with very pronounced grains. There is a casual, modest, down-to-earth feel about this film's futurism, not unlike Code 46.

Also good to see some recognizable Vancouver actors and locations used so prominently.

I love the premise of this film, but I'm very frustrated with great ideas being poorly executed. Does this one fall into the "great idea, bad movie" syndrome?

I think it's more of a "great idea, merely good, or at least okay, movie".

FWIW, my review.

Thanks for the link to your review Peter ... nicely done!

I think I'll check this one out ... for the premise if anything.