Johnny Mnemonic ** (1995, Keanu Reeves, Dolph Lundgren, Ice-T, Takeshi Kitano, Dina Meyer, Udo Keir) – Classic Movie Review 7070

Keanu Reeves has a micro-chip for brains as Johnny Mnemonic in director Robert Longo’s silly, nasty-toned 1995 sci-fi action thriller set in the 21st century when the most valuable information is transported in mnemonic implants in the heads of professional couriers like Johnny (Reeves) who offer security and confidentiality for the right price.

But Johnny has dumped his own memories to make room for the programs he smuggles. To buy them back, he agrees to deliver priceless data that has set an army of hitmen on his trail. But the massive upload is too much for poor Johnny’s little brain, and he must find the secret codes to download the info or die.

With a screenplay and story by William Gibson that are full of clichés and stereotypes, acting that is way over-the-top, and handling that is near hysterical, this decently premised and well set-up outing is amusing but not a success. At the height of his popularity, Reeves was in between mega-hits Speed and The Matrix at the time, with films like A Walk in the Clouds (1995), The Last Time I Committed Suicide (1997) and Chain Reaction (1996).

Dolph Lundgren is hilarious as the Street Preacher, a Jesus-figure in a long-haired wig. Also in the eclectic, eccentric cast are Ice-T, Takeshi Kitano, Dina Meyer, Udo Keir, Henry Rollins, Tracy Tweed, Don Francks, Denis Akiyama as Shinji, Barbara Sukowa, Sherry Miller, Arthur Eng, Von Flores, Diego Chambers, Falconer Abraham, Victoria Tengelis, Warren Sulatycky, Celina Wu, Gene Mack, Jamie Elman and Simon Sinn.

Johnny Mnemonic is directed by Robert Longo, runs 98 minutes, is a Alliance, Cinévison and TriStar production, is released by 20th Century Fox, is written by William Gibson, based on a  story by William Gibson, is shot by François Protat, is produced by Don Carmody, is scored by Brad Fiedel and is designed by Nilo Rodis Jamero.

Denis Akiyama (1952–2018).

Denis Akiyama, who battles Keanu Reeves in Johnny Mnemonic as Shinji, died of cancer on 28 June 2018, aged 66, in his home town of Toronto, Canada.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7070

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