neumu [ cinematronic ]




	Primer
	Shane Carruth Shane Carruth, David Sullivan, Casey Gooden, Anand Upadhyaya, Carrie Crawford 2004		"Primer" is a perplexing puzzle of a sci-fi film that transcends its miniscule budget and provokes rumination and considerable admiration — even as it generates confusion. Despite its shortcomings, it's a phenomenal effort that addresses no less than the labyrinthine concept of time travel in a funky, bare-bones suburban setting. Aaron and his business partner/best friend Abe are two engineers in the midst of an entrepreneurial project when they make a phenomenal discovery. Working in Aaron's garage, they're developing a specialized component for cyber systems — only the device they've been building with some colleagues ends up being capable of moving objects back in time. In no time at all and unbeknownst to the other engineers, Aaron and Abe escalate their experimentation with this peculiar machine, first with inanimate objects. But the lure of transporting a living being is very strong, even if there's a risk of inadvertently creating mind-bending paradoxes. Screenwriter and director Shane Carruth, a former engineer who co-stars in the movie as Aaron, made "Primer" for the remarkably tiny cost of around $7,000. He also edited, produced, photographed and scored the feature, which won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival. Taking advantage of the budget restrictions, Carruth gave "Primer" a grainy 1970s-style verité look that just adds to its weirdly plausible vibe.


	Wednesday, November 13, 2024





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