Surrogates poster & wallpaper

Bruce Willis, Radha Mitchell, Rosamund Pike

People are living their lives remotely from the safety of their own homes via robotic surrogates — sexy, physically perfect mechanical representations of themselves. It’s an ideal world where crime, ...( read more  read more... )pain, fear and consequences don’t exist. When the first murder in years jolts this utopia, FBI agent Greer (BRUCE WILLIS) discovers a vast conspiracy behind the surrogate phenomenon and must abandon his own surrogate, risking his life to unravel the mystery.

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48% liked it

25,207 ratings

Critics

38% liked it

97 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 29 min.

Directed by: Jonathan Mostow

Release Date: September 25, 2009

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Flixster Reviews (10,233)

  • cheojackson
    November 7, 2009
    cheojackson
    I was really excited about this film, mostly because I've been pleased with Bruce Willis sci-fi/action movies in the past. Sadly, this is no Live Free or Die Hard. Heck, it's not even The Fifth Element. Mostly, I felt like it was a flip side of the I, Robot coin, only with less f...( read more)uturistic settings. And as much as I love Bruce, he's no Will Smith. James Cromwell is rehashing is brilliant inventor schtick, but this time it left a lot to be desired. And that pretty much sums up the whole film. Overall, I would say skip this one, or wait until someone else rents it and then go over to their house. At least that way you only waste time, and not money.
  • moonrivers
    October 28, 2009
    moonrivers
    a by-the-numbers detective thriller with a lil sci-fi thrown in to spice the mix. in the future, y'see, we act out our lives thru these sophisticated automatons, robots, like in a vidgame...only somebody has found a way to kill people by killing their robots. enter willis, worl...( read more)dweary gumshoe, himself wondering if something human's not lost in the trade, determined to find the killer...
  • PvtCaboose91
    October 14, 2009
    PvtCaboose91
    "We are confronted with an unprecedented situation: two people have died while connected to their surrogates."


    Sometimes there's nothing better than a science fiction thriller supported by an exciting premise that resonates with the present. But there's nothing worse t

    ...( read more)han watching an exciting premise being squandered - and this is precisely the fate of 2009's Surrogates. Adapted from the 2006 graphic novel by Robert Venditti and Brett Weldele, this is a film that wastes a fascinating concept by inserting a generic conspiracy plot that's as nonsensical as it is hard to follow. Director Jonathan Mostow's enthralling visual scheme is not enough to compensate for the cliché-ridden script.


    A rapid-fire opening credits montage reveals the technological advances leading to the "now" of the story, and explains how surrogates came to be. Most of the population of the world are now plugged into these robotic avatars (which are more or less just ideal representations of the user) and can go about their daily activities without fearing death from accidents, diseases or any other risks associated with the contemporary world. The crime rate has dropped sharply as a result, and the streets are filled with attractive people (of course there's the inevitable gag of a disgustingly obese man walking the streets as a smokin' hot female surrogate). Those who reject the surrogate culture have been marginalised and now live in ghettoised civilisations.
    Set in the not-too-distant future, the film picks up when there's an anomaly in technological paradise: someone has developed a weapon which can kill a user through their surrogate (an action thought to be impossible). When the son of the man who invented the surrogates is murdered in this fashion, FBI Special Agents Greer (Willis) and Peters (Mitchell) begin investigating.


    What follows is a twisty, heavily clichéd whodunit tale tagged with a predictable ending. The movie simply jumps from turn to turn in a programmed manner and feels underdone at 85 minutes; suggesting that studio interference was a problem, and the movie was trimmed heavily on its way to cinemas. Surrogates has been pared down to the bare essentials of action and whodunit without a lot of room to breathe, which is highlighted uncomfortably by the clichéd subplot concerning the relationship between Greer and his wife Maggie (Pike). It's a narrative thread that's integral to the overall story, but the melodramatic fragments are all that remain. These flaws notwithstanding, the story is at least delivered at a brisk pace. The narrative problems are brought to the fore only in hindsight - if nothing else, the film gets credit for its entertainment value.


    Surrogates can be praised for its riveting visuals. Jonathan Mostow's direction is crisp and the special effects are spectacular. It's a fascinating world that's been created here, with the surrogates being given a plastic-like sheen that differentiates them from the "meat bags" who refuse to plug into the system. However the action sequences are severely undercut by one factor: the PG-13 rating. All the violent money shots are placed off camera and the violence is frustratingly tame. Luckily, though, the action is not marred by quick cutting or indecipherable shaky cam. Mostow's intention was clearly to entertain, and in that regard the director has crafted a perfectly serviceable, paint-by-numbers thriller. Unfortunately, though, the high-octane blips are just that - blips. It's admirable that the film aspires to examine deeper issues, but the script by Michael Ferris and John D. Brancato (the guys who penned Catwoman) is lacking. The filmmakers prioritise pacing over content, when a deeper, longer movie should have been produced.


    The script is also riddled with holes. Surrogates would surely cost a great deal, so how would the poor or the unemployed or even the petty street criminals be able to pay for a surrogate and have their protection ensured? It's also hard to believe that virtually everyone on the planet would want to own a surrogate. Is real life truly that awful that we could all consider living life as a robot? There are other aspects which aren't touched upon. Can one eat and drink while using their surrogate? How would sex work? Furthermore, how would reproduction work? The robotic surrogates obviously wouldn't be able to give birth, and everyone seems to want to remain inside their surrogate and avoid contact with actual humans, so how the hell would more generations of people be born? The premise of Surrogates is bursting with narrative possibilities and interesting questions the movie simply isn't interested in addressing.


    Bruce Willis starring in a movie is always a good thing. He's the John Wayne or Clint Eastwood of this generation: even if the movie stinks, Willis' screen presence makes it more tolerable and worthwhile. Playing the familiar movie policeman role who must risk the loyalty of his family and colleagues to uncover the truth, Willis does an exemplary job. Once his character of Greer can no longer use his surrogate, he's forced to hit the streets in the flesh. From there the film relies on his performance to allow viewers to experience Greer's system shock of facing surrogate land as a real person and realising just how ridiculous the situation has become. Instead of using flashy camera techniques to illustrate the changing perspective, Mostow focuses squarely on Willis' emotional & physical performance - the actor had to convey the central theme of the movie through his performance, and he achieves this, which is utterly extraordinary.


    The filmmakers do a great job of making Bruce Willis look young and handsome. That said, the wig he wears is awful. It's a blessing that Greer breaks from his surrogate about one third into the movie.
    Most of the supporting cast is shoved to the side due to the brief running time. Radha Mitchell's character initially seems less predestined towards two-dimensionality, but there's no room in the tired murder plot for any back-story or solid characterisation. Rosamund Pike does what she can with the thankless role of Greer's wife, while Ving Rhames makes a strong impression as the leader of the resistance against the surrogates. James Cromwell's role is minor, but nevertheless his performance is assured.


    It's clear that the creative team behind Surrogates wanted to deliver an astonishing and worthwhile sci-fi actioner. But the way the film addresses a number of meaningful issues fails to make much of an impact. While it's an enjoyable movie thanks to some quality action, and while it does achieve its goals on a very basic level, the ingenious premise is pushed aside too soon in favour of formula.
  • thmtsang
    October 9, 2009
    thmtsang
    This movie is a bit like iRobot. People use robots / surrogates to live their daily lives. They operate the surrogates from home and experience the outside world through the surrogates. That why they can do their jobs efficiently, create beautiful images of themselves and they do...( read more) not experience danger or illness. However the people start to die as their surrogates meet tragic deaths. Bruce is the FBI agent who solves who is behind these crimes. Good plot.
  • Camus123
    October 8, 2009
    Camus123
    The premise, while not wholly original, was quite sound. The acting was pretty good. Where this movie fails is in execution, predictability, PG-13, lack of depth and pretty much just plain playing it too safe to care. They could have gone so much further with this and I have read...( read more) that they did, but it never made it to the screen. The movie runs under 90 minutes. It could have gone on for well over two hours had they taken the time to bring flesh to life (no pun intended). The story behind the rebellion, the conspiracies...they never ran with it. In addition, all plot turns are so transparent that the movie becomes flat out pedestrian playing to the lowest common denominator. The back-story is so cobbled together that it feels choppy and unsatisfying. NOTE: At the same time...I was pretty entertained. I love Bruce Willis in anything and he does not disappoint here save for the fact that...we don't really get to know his character as well as I would have liked. No development. The message is there, but we only geta glimpse. The premise gets a 4 reminiscent of a Phillip K. Dick sentience. The execution gets around a 2.5. A solid 3.25 to end the summer movie fare with a whisper that could have been a bang. You can wait for the DVD to see this one and hope that they bring us the "Director's Cut" with more meat.
  • cafavier
    November 9, 2009
    cafavier
    Watched it until the end, but only just. Such an exciting idea, people choosing to live most of their life in virtual reality, but the actual movie was predictable and not very exciting.
  • dishanlonewolf
    November 8, 2009
    dishanlonewolf
    A great B movie.
    Great for those who love sci-fi.
    Reminded me of I,Robot a little bit.
  • maytcy
    November 8, 2009
    maytcy
    Nice movie. If really get surrogates I will try it.
  • siewmaywah
    November 7, 2009
    siewmaywah
    The first half hour was really good. Kept my interest. But right after that, the movie switched to autopilot, so did my brain. Sadly, it's not on the same level as "Gattaca"; it's not as intelligent. Even "Gamer" had something better to say, and it was just a badass, insane, brai...( read more)nless, action flick.
  • zaenal
    November 7, 2009
    zaenal
    serba nanggung...mo action kurang, mo [sok]drama juga ga mungkin..
    nunggu die hard 5 aja lah. sorry y om bruce.

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Critic Reviews

October 14, 2009
Nick Schager, Lessons of Darkness

Has all the get-up-and-go of a dead battery. full review

September 27, 2009
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Surrogates is entertaining and ingenious, but it settles too soon for formula. full review

September 27, 2009
Ty Burr, Boston Globe

Give credit to filmmaker Jonathan Mostow for keeping the movie on track; give credit to star Bruce Willis for keeping a straight face. full review

September 26, 2009
Pete Hammond, Back Stage

Entertaining, suspenseful and wildly original. See it for yourself but leave your surrogate at home. full review

September 25, 2009
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

Do the actors sound so robotic because they are playing robots well or humans badly? And did a machine write this dialogue? If so, could we please apply for an upgrade? full review

September 25, 2009
Kyle Smith, New York Post

Surrogates nudges the robo-thriller in an interesting direction. full review

September 25, 2009
Claudia Puig, USA Today

Despite bumpy execution likely to have detractors yelling "déjà boo," Surrogates oozes possibilities. full review

September 24, 2009
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

Surrogates stays afloat by not taking itself too seriously, but also by recognizing that a movie about robots shouldn't look as if it were made by one. full review

View more Surrogates reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments

  • HeadlessChook16
    November 3, 2009
    HeadlessChook16
    I just had to watch it because of Bruce Willis :]
    However the movie wasn' great, but it wasn't bad either. Good storyline, it was an eye opener.
    I think the ending could have been a little more epic.
  • AsianNorthOfThailandGeneration
    October 31, 2009
    AsianNorthOfThailandGeneration
    So latest in 2009 ! Incredible ! How ' ll you do ? If next future goings-on like this .
  • YutaSw
    October 8, 2009
    YutaSw
    good story and cast, maybe someday will really happen
  • zmogusenis
    October 8, 2009
    zmogusenis
    I hope to check it out ass soon as posible.
  • jeripoks
    September 30, 2009
    jeripoks
    Bruce Willis,again in another hard hitting action film..?
    Oh men!I will never miss to watch this movie.
  • jcgasendo
    September 29, 2009
    jcgasendo
    Only one thing i can say....there's no replacement for humans. I like the script tho and the twists of the storyline as it reaches the climax part. Great movie!!!
  • mbyamukama
    September 22, 2009
    mbyamukama
    I definately want to see this one
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  • Tagline:How do you save humanity when the only thing that's real is you?   Answer »
  • Who plays Maggie in 'Surrogates'?  Answer »
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