SLIFF 2010 Review: JIM

It’s a screwed up world out there. The economy, environment and society itself are all falling apart, but what can be done? We increasingly turn to technology as the answer, which has its role, but is there a point where technology goes to far?

JIM is a dramatic science-fiction film directed by Jeremy Morris-Burke, a native of Saint Louis, where the film was mostly shot. JIM dwells on the pessimistic perspective of our future dominated by technology, following two stories from different eras, connected by the common theme technology’s effects on humanity. The film begins with a faux commercial — a la Verhoeven’s Starship Troopers or Total Recall — for Gene4, a company that custom designs human genetics. This is an interesting element, but sets the expectation for a tone less dark and somber than we actually experience.

One story follows Jim — played by Dan Illian — a middle-class professional who struggles with his recently destroyed life. He’s lost his job and can’t find employment, his wife gets cancer and dies, his bills rack up and creditors won’t leave him alone. Jim tries really hard to make things right, but society and the economy are keeping him down. Eventually, Jim faces an existential dilemma, making a decision that will affect both his and his unborn child’s life.

The other story takes us into the future, where our technology and corporate aspirations have led to planetary destruction of life and devastation from a war between humans and the clones they’ve created to serve their needs. The story follows a Maintenance Clone 3774 — played by Abigail Savage — as she discovers she is different from the other clones. This dim future Earth is run by a disenfranchised corporate executive named Niskaa, played by Michael Strelow.

Jim is a mess, getting worse, developing the tell-tale signs of someone ready to snap under the pressure of societal demands and lack of basic compassion. In the future, 3774 begins to develop human characteristics like emotion and curiosity. JIM implies a psychic connection between the contemporary man and the clone from the future, but it’s a difficult connection for the audience to make out clearly as its presented. With that said, the individual stories are interesting on their own merits.

Aside from being slightly distracted by Dan Illian’s appearance — he looks a little like Data from Star Trek: Next Generation — its easy to empathize with Jim, suffering much the same way many of us are right now. Jim externalizes many of the feelings we have, but would dare not to act upon.

The story of the future plays a little like a darker-than-normal episode of Doctor Who. 3774 is a compelling character, assisted by Nicodemus — played by Atticus Cain — one of the last “actuals” (or, humans) remaining on Earth, as she attempts to make sense of these new feelings. This story line suffers a bit from an excess of dialogue used to explain what, where and when of the future and not enough of the how and why.

Dan Illian and Abigail Savage both deliver satisfying performances while Jeremy Morris-Burke presents an intriguing vision of the future fallen apart. The special effects for the future are an impressive accomplishment for what was certainly a limited budget. Jeremy Morris-Burke deserves praise for taking on the multiple roles of writer, director, cinematographer, editor and producer on JIM. His eye for the camera and talent for staging shots is evident throughout.

JIM will play during the 19th Annual Stella Artois St. Louis International Film Festival on Friday, November 12th at 9:45 pm and on Sunday, November 14th at 6:00 pm at the Tivoli Theatre.