Ready Player One Movie Review

Released: 28th March 2018 (UK)

Length: 140 Minutes

Certificate: 12A

Director: Steven Spielberg

Since their beginnings half a decade ago, gaming has risen to become a fledgling part of pop culture, but it’s rare to see a major film release tribute them so absolutely. Spielberg, a fan of the medium himself, has now turned his attention to Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One, a love letter to geek culture from the eighties to the present.

In 2045, the real world has degenerated into a cluttered mess, causing millions to escape their problems in the virtual world of the Oasis; designed by legendary game designer and professed introvert James Halliday (Mark Rylance), the game is a place where you can be whoever you want and imagine any scenario you can conjure. Following his passing, Halliday unveils the ultimate contest; an Easter egg unlocked by three keys. Whoever finds it first inherits his full fortune and complete control of the Oasis. The quest unfolds from the perspective of Wade Watts, (Tye Sheridan) who lives in the stacks of Ohio; he soon forms a motley crew with his best friend Aech, (Lena Waithe) cyber crush Art3mis (Olivia Cooke), and comrades Daito (Phillip Zhao) and Dato (Win Morisaki) and they set out to find the keys before the villainous Innovative Online Industries Corporation does. Unfolding from the perspective of both protagonist and antagonist, the plot of RP1 never slows down an inch throughout, making for a rapid barrage of stunning action sequences broken up by a few ventures into the real world. There’s no doubt that the book has been heavily trimmed to keep the pacing consistent and the darker moments at bay, which does keep things engaging though this comes at the cost of world-building. You don’t learn very much about how the Oasis works and the first act does contain an unhealthy amount of exposition. The same also goes for the real world; while in the book it was often a bleak setting choked by global warming, corporate ruthlessness and a growing energy crisis, the viewer never really gets that context in the film, which would have made the Oasis itself more alluring.

With an intention to focus on the Oasis itself, characterisation in Ready Player One is rather thin; the actors all play their parts well enough, but I wouldn’t expect any major development or character arcs throughout the film. Wade’s basic living in Ohio is rarely expanded upon and his bond with Art3mis feels especially weak with only a few moments given to the two of them in the real world. Aech’s character reveal is mostly backended towards the second half of the film and as for Daito and Sho, they really don’t have any character at all. It’s a shame that they couldn’t get the balance right between their real selves and alter egos in cyberspace as this would have deepened their characters. Ironically, it’s Mark Rylance who conveys the most as James Halliday; the audience learns the most about his backstory and his creation of Gregarious Game Systems and as a result, he manages to deliver that convincing heart that Spielberg often puts into his films that isn’t matched by the other characters. Sorrento is your typical conniving corporate businessman, but you can tell Ben Mendelsohn is having a lot of fun with the role. If you can move past the basic characterisation, RP1 still keeps you interested and I’ll explain why.

Being based in a video-game world around 80% of the time, RP1 makes a heavy use of CGI and it all looks absolutely fantastic. Incredibly detailed animations, dazzling environments and lighting, fluid camerawork everywhere you look; it’s all superbly helmed by cinematographer Janusz Kaminski and Industrial Light and Magic, who return to collaborate with Steven after a decade of absence. Alongside plenty of clever animated movements in the Oasis, a nightclub scene with a cheeky nod to the Bee Gees is a highlight with all its zero-gravity shenanigans and heavy use of luminous lighting, as well as the final battle which brings together hundreds of characters for a wildly ballistic round of destruction. The cultural references on show (of which there are more than any other film) are all faithful and contrary to fears, the film doesn’t rely too much on them, or place them in awkward positions too much. The music by Alan Silvestri is a great fit for the virtual world, laced with classic gaming soundbites and a few retro tracks from the eighties sprinkled in for good measure. With all the pop culture across the decades colliding, I was reminded of Back to the Future at points; in short, if you have the slightest interest in any of it, the film is unrelenting in its efforts to pull you into its world.

Ready Player One is pure nostalgic escapism to the nth degree, delivering everything you’d ask for from a nerdy tribute to your favourite pastimes. It’s not so deep with its characters and world-building, but for the most part the film is so much fun, you’ll be glad you jumped on for the ride.

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars (Good)