Total Recall, while still checking many of the boxes of a hilarious blood soaked Arnie thriller, manages to stand on its own by asking the viewer and the main character to ask themselves what is real and if it even really matters It is imporant to approach this movie with the understanding that it is not art. Total Recall is no Inception and its no Primer. Arnold's character Quade still spends more time ripping peoples' arms off (seriously) than questioning his reality. But with this in mind, the movie does toy with ideas of dreams and false realities in a way very atypical of action movies at the time. However Recall isnt the the confusing mind breaking trip some people sell it as. My introduction to the movie included the words "by the end you wont know whats real" and to be honest i believed it for about tue first half of the movie. But with a self aware wink, a nod, and a terrific plot twist the movie throws the whole concept of confusion right out of the window. A reveal by the central villain changes not just the course of the film but the direction of its themes and ideas. Quade is in essence told that his whole life is a lie, but instead of breaking down he chooses to ignore all the moral questions this digs up. Rather than reveling in confusion and metaphysical mire the movie and the leading man give their confusion the middle finger. Quade is Quade and nobody else. As a whole, Total Recall is a sledgehammer's take on a deep sci-fi flick for better or for worse. You could argue that the latter half of the film ignoring the questions its former half raised is a cop out and cheaply revomes complications from the plot. And in a way it does. But its this bold and silly move fits so firmly in the tone of the movie it seems as though it could be nothing but a knowning wink and a "fuck you" to all the people looking for a deeper meaning. Oh, also you get to watvh peoples heads explode in the craziest action movie of thar year, but thats a given if you see the Schwarzenegger name on the box. 4/5 stars
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