Steven Spielberg has cemented himself as one of this generation’s greatest directors. From Jaws, E.T, Jurassic Park, Schindler’s List, Saving Private Ryan, and most recently The Post, Spielberg has developed a reputation as a director who can cover any genre if tasked to. He’s tackled a wide variety of subjects throughout his career and has never stirred away from controversy. From slavery, the Holocaust, and most recently the Pentagon Papers, Spielberg has never shied away from controversy.
When researching his latest film, Ready Player One, the last thing I assumed to find out was that this film was marked by controversy as well. However, I was surprised to find out that the film which is an adaptation of Ernest Cline’s 2011 surprising best-selling novel has dealt with a large amount of controversy based on the pop culture inspired and nostalgic nature of the book. If Star Wars: The Last Jedi is any indication, the last thing a director wants to do is piss off nonsensical, short minded, fanboys that will complain all over the internet if the film as not exactly to their “marky desires.” Those “marks” can rest easy as Ready Player One is not only the first big surprise of 2018 but Speilberg’s most entertaining adventure since 1993’s Jurassic Park.
Ready Player One is set in 2045 five years after the death of James Halliday, the creator of Gregarious Games and a virtual reality Oasis. After his death, Halliday released a video stating that there were 3 “easter eggs” in the form of keys that if found, would give the finder sole proprietorship of the Oasis and his company. Wade Watts, who lives in the shacks of Ohio and seeks refuge in the Oasis much like the rest of the world. While the description is basic, I purposely avoid sharing much of the film’s plot because Ready Player One is a film that should be taken in and enjoyed with knowing as little as possible about it ahead of time.
One of Ready Player One’s finest accomplishments is the ability to swiftly transition from the citizens in the Oasis and the real world. The credit can be placed on Spielberg and cinematographer, Janusz Kaminski, who is a regular for the director. The Oasis is one of the most breathtaking sites I’ve seen on film this year. The film does a great job in creating a world that allows cinephiles feel like they are a part of that world too.
Performance wise, look nowhere else but to Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, and Ben Mendelson. While there is not much fleshing out beyond the narrative and small dialogue about these characters’ past, it does not take away from the heartfelt performances by Sheridan and Cooke. While Mendelson continues his streak of bad ass villain roles including his in The Dark Knight Rises and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Mendelson’s brilliance comes in differentiating these villainous roles by finding different reasons behind cinephiles hating his individual characters.
While Ready Player One’s takes place in 2045, it hit home. Today’s society is obsessed with their screens and it would be likely that we would seek refuge in an alternative reality, lead by social media and VR devices which could rival the Oasis. The film also emphasizes the importance of friendship and relationships, something that leads to the development of the “High 5.”
This is the point in the review where I am supposed to say that the nostalgia within the film’s trailer was overkill. However, that’s not happening as the nostalgia and consistent pop culture references throughout the film were some of the best and most entertaining moments within the film. Starting with seeing that beautiful DeLorean on the big screen again for the first time since 1990. As a fan of Back to the Future, the cherry on top was a Rubix cube named, “Zemeckis Cube” in the director’s honor along with the cherry on top being a call back to the score from the film, which ironically was composed by Mr. Alan Silvestri, the same composer of Back to the Future. Along with that reference came callbacks to 70’s and 80’s games, foods, films, and music. Without spoiling the scene, Ready Player One also provided my absolute favorite scene of the year as it was a call back to one of the finest films and directors of the 80’s.
For fans of nostalgia and a tribute to yesteryear, Ready Player One is the film for you. A film that is able to pay tribute to the past while establishing a strong commentary on the direction that today’s society may head toward in the future. Steven Spielberg may have created a divided forum with this film, but Ready Player One brings back the magic first seen in E.T and Jurassic Park.
Reel Talk gives Ready Player One 4 reels
