1999 is considered one of the best years in cinema history.
, with
an alarming number of movies released
those that stood out as major artistic accomplishments or played crucial roles in cultural shifts, including
The Blair Witch Project
,
Election
,
The Talented Mr. Ripley
, and
The Sixth Sense
As bold a statement as this may seem, if forced to choose only one, I would contend that
The Matrix
rises above the others as the most skilled and genuinely significant movie released that year.
Besides maybe
Fight Club
No other movie has stayed as pertinent to today’s world or better avoided becoming outdated as a ‘90s relic. Given its standing,
It’s hardly surprising that its shadow entirely overshadowed it.
The Thirteenth Floor
, an entirely overlooked science fiction movie released in the same year that had a somewhat comparable theme centered around
virtual reality
While it certainly doesn’t compare to
The Matrix
,
The Thirteenth Floor
is still a lot of fun if you view it from the right angle
.
What Is ‘The Thirteenth Floor’ About?
Fuller (
Armin Mueller-Stahl
), the multimillionaire owner and inventor of a virtual reality simulation, is found murdered, and the prime suspect is his protégé, Douglas (
Craig Bierko
).
All the proof points to Douglas being the perpetrator.
, and he can no longer determine what appears genuine anymore, particularly after finding out about Fuller’s daughter, Jane (
Gretchen Mol
) desires to terminate the entire simulation. Confused about how to resolve this issue, he discovers that Fuller had left him a message prior to his death, informing him that he can find the solution within the simulation itself.
With assistance from his buddy, Jason (
Vincent D’Onofrio
) is the sole individual capable of running the simulation,
Doug has to enter the software to discover the solutions that will grant him redemption.
The plot development doesn’t shine in this movie, as it conveys much of the information either in an overly complicated or excessively didactic way, resulting in numerous unexplored implications.
worldbuilding
ambiguous and underdeveloped. Nevertheless, after it completes setting up and starts focusing on its tasks, it can become quite enjoyable.
‘The Thirteenth Floor’ excels more as noir than it does as sci-fi.
After you see beyond the advanced cosmetic elements of the virtual reality concept,
The Thirteenth Floor
is significantly more of a
murder mystery noir
, complete with all the tropes associated with such labels. Expect a skeptical investigator pursuing Douglas, confidants who may have undisclosed mysteries of their own, along with cinematography that unmistakably draws inspiration from various influences.
Blade Runner
.
The movie tries to create an emotional core through a romantic relationship between Douglas and Jane that closely mirrors numerous others.
tragic noir romances
, even though it fails to create much genuine chemistry between these characters. The rationale behind this, which is never clarified,
the simulation is designed to look like
Los Angeles
in 1937
, an excuse to put the film in the legacy of
the great noirs of the past
. As much as
The Thirteenth Floor
was apparently dismissed with a shrug
Matrix
wannabe,
It shares much more with the cult favorite that came out the previous year.
Dark City
With themes involving the blurring of identities and recreated versions of a stylized past, this movie offers an engaging experience. Although opinions might differ regarding the satisfaction derived from the plot resolutions and the logic behind some of the film’s rules, the unfolding narrative is quite enjoyable. An outstanding performance contributes significantly to drawing viewers into the story.
Vincent D’Onofrio steals the spotlight in ‘The Thirteenth Floor’.
If there’s a single compelling reason to watch this film, it’s for Vincent D’Onofrio’s performance.
, who appears to be enjoying his role the most. He portrays two distinct characters, both named Jason,
the ’90s version
of a quirky nerd, and Ashton, a bartender in the simulation who may be Douglas’ only true ally. D’Onofrio gets to play around with two extremes, going from nebbishy and socially inept to mysterious and nefarious, from one bad stringy blonde wig to a more close-cut bad blonde wig, and grunge-slacker chic to dapper vests and suits. No spoilers, but there’s even a late-game crossing of the streams that
gives D’Onofrio the license to go wild
, a much-needed injection of levity in a film that tends to drown in its self-seriousness.
This film was released at a time when D’Onofrio was still known more as a character actor with
a specialization in portraying bizarre show villains
, and
The Thirteenth Floor
struggles with fully embracing the idea of making his two main characters the central menace in the storyline. This aspect often gets overshadowed as the narrative tries to explore the limits of what is real (similar to concepts found in works like).
Don’t Worry, Darling
, among all films, and might have improved with a clearer focus on its narrative drive. Despite that,
The Thirteenth Floor
results in a fast-paced experience perfect for filling an afternoon and represents an intriguing blend of genres.
, even though it’s clear why it was surpassed by other movies of a comparable nature.
