Impostor (2000)

22% of critics liked it
(93 reviews)
45% of users liked it
(6,910 ratings)

This long-delayed science fiction thriller from director Gary Fleder was actually filmed prior to his box-office hit Don't Say a Word (2001), which preceded it in theaters by several months. Based on a 1953 short story by Philip K. Dick, the film shares that schizophrenic author's long-running… More This long-delayed science fiction thriller from director Gary Fleder was actually filmed prior to his box-office hit Don't Say a Word (2001), which preceded it in theaters by several months. Based on a 1953 short story by Philip K. Dick, the film shares that schizophrenic author's long-running obsessions with concealed identity and humanity's potential inferiority to alternative life forms. Gary Sinise stars as Spencer John Olham, a respected government scientist in the year 2079 trying to devise a secret weapon that will help his fellow humans win a decade-long war with invading aliens that are cloning human subjects and using the replicas as walking time bombs. Suddenly, Olham is accused of being an alien spy and a nationwide manhunt to capture him ensues. With even his doctor wife (Madeleine Stowe) unsure that she can trust him, Olham must uncover the truth on his own, even as he's relentlessly pursued by Hathaway (Vincent D'Onofrio), a federal agent charged with destroying the clones. Imposter has a complicated history, originally produced in early 2000 as a 30-minute short to be included in an anthology entitled "The Light Years Trilogy," a project that never got off the ground. So impressed was Dimension Films with the completed piece, however, that the footage was incorporated into a new feature version. That film was then shuffled around the release schedule for more than a year as effects were completed, reshoots were ordered, and the film was recut for a PG-13 rating instead of its original R. The R-rated "director's cut" was later released on DVD. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 35 min.
Directed By: Gary Fleder
Written By: Ehren Kruger, Mark Protosevich, Scott Rosenberg, David Twohy
Genres: Action & Adventure, Science Fiction & Fantasy

In Theaters: Dec 4, 2001 Wide
On DVD: Jul 9, 2002
Studio: Dimension Films

Critic Reviews

Kirk Honeycutt, Hollywood Reporter
A worthy successor to those sci-fi B-movies of old even if it is nowhere in the league of such Dick-inspired films as Total Recall and Blade Runner.
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
Feels less like a cousin to Blade Runner than like a bottom-feeder sequel in the Escape From New York series.
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
Pushes the same old cliches in Blade Runner packaging.
Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com
Everything about Impostor ... is both familiar and profoundly unoriginal.
Robert Koehler, Variety
In the end, alas, the obvious interests of an actor of Sinise's range and depth are subsumed to the blunt demands of a standardized chase movie.
Mike Clark, USA Today
Unless there are zoning ordinances to protect your community from the dullest science fiction, Impostor is opening today at a theater near you.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
A great cast can't save the poor script.
Adam Smith, Empire Magazine
A miasma of indifferent screenwriting and wobbly performances.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
The performances are solid, with Sinise's sobriety and lack of histrionics, especially, making him an anchoring and sympathetic presence.
David Grove, Film Threat
What happened here?
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
Most intriguing of all is the original short, which provides an interesting comparison/contrast with the final feature.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
The history behind Impostor is perhaps more compelling than the film itself.
Brian Mckay, eFilmCritic.com
Originally slated as a 40 minute installment in a sci-fi trilogy film, Impostor should have been left that way.
Frank Ochieng, Movie Eye
There's one thing you can say about Imposter - it does have the appropriate title. Fleder's ill-conceived actioner flick poses as a thriving sci-fi adventure but its real identity is that of a glossy-looking, predictable lukewarm futuristic yarn.
Clint Morris, Moviehole
Worth the ticket price -- mainly for the surprise ending and set design -- and most of its 96 minutes is absorbing.
Ryan Cracknell, Apollo Guide
An uneven look into a grim future that doesn't come close to the level of intelligence and visual splendour that can be seen in other films based on Philip K. Dick stories.
Urban Cinefile Critics, Urban Cinefile
It's edgy, fast-paced, and if you don't take it too seriously, a lot of fun.
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
Sinise is quite good as the guy trying desperately to prove that he's innocent, even as he has nagging self-doubts.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...an original Impostor short film (on the disc)...makes for a better movie experience than the actual theatrical release.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...too little material for too much screen time.

Read all 23 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Film C

i really enjoyed this movie it hasnt been given enough credit to be honest i like the the way its been set and the year its funny and action packed and with a twist the ending is a bit disappointing but the thing with a lot of films is that the entire film is brilliant and then they… More
i really enjoyed this movie it hasnt been given enough credit to be honest i like the the way its been set and the year its funny and action packed and with a twist the ending is a bit disappointing but the thing with a lot of films is that the entire film is brilliant and then they sort of run out of time towards the end so they rush it but neverthe less worth a watch!
xGary X

Weapons designer Gary Sinise finds himself on the run in a warring future state after being accused of being an alien spy. Yet another potboiler based on a Philip K. Dick short story, Impostor doesn't really have the depth or invention to satisfyingly explore the source… More
Weapons designer Gary Sinise finds himself on the run in a warring future state after being accused of being an alien spy. Yet another potboiler based on a Philip K. Dick short story, Impostor doesn't really have the depth or invention to satisfyingly explore the source material's themes of identity and sense of self. It does however have some nice effects and production design, and a cast that although lacking in big name stars, does have enough in the way of solid character actors to keep you watching, including Vincent D'Onofrio, Tony Shalhoub and Madeleine Stowe. The rather straight to DVD style direction and unimaginative plot (it's basically just a long chase sequence) means it will win no prizes for originality, but taken as a no frills sci-fi B-movie it has enough action and twists to pass 80 minutes inoffensively enough. Nowhere near the best Philip K. Dick adaptation, but far from the worst.
Jason S

Great story and the casting was spot on. The action worked but the emotional conflict with the characters were what makes this a great movie.
The S

An underrated picture based on a story by sci-fi giant Philp K. Dick. The cast are generally excellent. The main plot is intelligent and thought provoking but the film loses the plot a bit when it tries too hard to be an action movie.

Cast

            Gary Sinise as Spencer Oldham

            Madeleine Stowe as Maya Olham

            Vincent D'Onofrio as Hathaway

            Tony Shalhoub as Nelson Gittes

            Tim Guinee as Dr. Carone

            Mekhi Phifer as Cale

            Lindsay Crouse as Chancellor

            Elizabeth Peña as Midwife

            Brian Brophy as Military Official

            Scott Burkholder as Jack Stoller

            Gary Dourdan as Captain Burke

            John Gatins as Patient - Soldier

            Erica Gimpel as Newscaster

            Jonelle Kennedy as screaming nurse

            Ted King as RMR Operator

            Kimberly Scott as Comms officer

            Tracey Walter as Mr. Siegel

            Melinda Ramos Renna as Reporter

            Veena Bidasha as Frowning Nurse

            Rachel Luttrell as Scan room nurse

            Burt Bulos as Newscaster #3

            Una Damon as Local newscaster

            Golden Brooks as Cale's Sister

            Arly Jover as Newscaster #2

            Jason Beck as Gang Boy #2

            Ivana Milicevic as Gang girl

            Shane Brolly as Lieutenant Burrows

            Maury Sterling as Comms Tech

            Judy Jean Berns as Disgruntled Woman

            Ellen Bradley as Nursing Mothing

            Morty Coyle as Kissing Couple Man

            Yvette Ocampo Coyle as Kissing couple woman

            Cristos as Trooper #2

            Bayani Ison as Squad leader

            Elizabeth Kate as Maya look-alike

            Malea McGuinness as Screeming nurse

            Diane Mizota as Receptionist

            Adam Rodriguez as Trooper #1

            Shannon Saint Ryan as Zoner

            Greg Serand as Gang boy #1

            Mac Sinise as Young Spence

            Giovanni Sirchia as Trooper #3

            Julie Vitz as Typox Child

            Tim Walsh as Arrested Engineer

            Dwayne Wycoff as Esa Soldier
See full cast