Christopher Webster [Celluloid 03.01.11] movie trailer book scifi adaptation



Based on the novel by Philip K. Dick, Radio Free Albemuth follows the awakening of record store owner, Nicholas Brady, through visions communicated from a satellite of unknown origins (though probably VALIS). Under guidance from his visions, Nic rises up against the world's fascist government masquerading as the United States of America.

We've been following development on the film for a while now, and even reviewed a workprint that played at last year's SciFi London. I've seen it too and can tell you it's well done and faithful to Dick's style and intentions. So yeah, we're thrilled to finally bring you Dick heads the first trailer.

Synopsis:
Berkeley record store clerk Nick Brady (Jonathan Scarfe) begins to experience strange visions from an entity he calls VALIS that cause him to uproot his family and move to Los Angeles where he becomes a successful music company executive. With the help of best friend, science-fiction writer Philip K. Dick himself (Shea Whigam) and a mysterious woman named Silvia (Alanis Morissette), Nick finds himself drawn into a dangerous political-mystical conspiracy of cosmic proportions. The story is set in an alternate reality America circa 1985 under the authoritarian control of President Fremont, a Nixon-like clone (Scott Wilson).

Radio Free Albemuth is directed by John Alan Simon and has a great cast in Shea Whigham (Machete, Tigerland), Jonathan Scarfe (Twilight), Katheryn Winnick (Choose, Love and other Drugs) and Alanis Morissette (Dogma).

Check out the trailer after the break.

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quietearth (12 years ago) Reply

I have a copy of this and really dug this film.

Anonymous (12 years ago) Reply

Crap what is this a telling of what is going on now with the world?

Anonymous (12 years ago) Reply

um maybe because it's about people who have had enough of a repressive, authoritarian regime and risk their lives to bring it down. Tunisia? Egypt? Lybia? Twitter and facebook didn't exist in the 80's but music did and that's how they attempt to start a movement and get people to take the power back.

Anonymous (12 years ago) Reply

More independent filmmakers should be doing Dick adaptations. It doesn't matter if some of the production values are a little lower, because the story and ideas are what's ultimately compelling.

Anonymous (12 years ago) Reply

Albeit a pessimistic outlook, this film, judging by the trailer, seems like a far too "on the nose" adaptation of Dick's novel. All the great films created from his novels have taken creative license, attempting to use what's most vital in filmmaking, the visual experience. I'll concede the fact that, yes, this is only a trailer, not the actual film. But when the filmmakers set up the viewers initial exposure to their work, the outlook is grim when you're hit over the head with two minutes of overwrought dialog and plot points. But... I remain patient.

Anonymous (12 years ago) Reply

wow. i feel just the opposite of you. i'm so sick of pkd adaptations that take one section of a story/book and discard the rest, so i'm ready for a film that is a real adaptation of the novel.

Jory (12 years ago) Reply

Nice!!! I can't wait to see this flick!!!

Anonymous (12 years ago) Reply

"All WHAT great films" created from his novels? Blade Runner, okay. A Scanner Darkly, sort of. Two minutes of plot points? Must of watched a different trailer. If "on the nose" means that Radio Free Albemuth respects the source material's themes than I think real PKD fans are going to be pleased.

Anonymous (12 years ago) Reply

Whatever about how 'on-the-nose' this is, it looks amateurish, badly written and badly acted.

Anonymous (12 years ago) Reply

Total Dickhead blogspot saw the film and thought it was awesome.

Anonymous (12 years ago) Reply

Shea Whigham picked up Best Actor Award at RFA premiere at Sydney Festival. Film got Directors Choice Best Feature.

Anonymous (12 years ago) Reply

Check out David Gill's Total-Dickhead. Probably the best PKD site on the web. He's seen it and thinks it's pretty great. As he points out, most of the Hollywood PKD adaptations are a lot of pointless action sequences and special effects with a key ingredient missing - Philip K. Dick. This website Quiet Earth called Radio Free Albemuth - the most faithful PKD adaptation to date.

Anonymous (12 years ago) Reply

Psyched to see this. Cool retro animation.

David Banner (12 years ago) Reply

I guess I must be a snob, I really hate watching movies not shot on 1)Film, 2)HD.

This almost looks like it was shot on VHS?

Without having seen this movie yet(I do hope it's good and I forget the poor picture quality after 5mins) I can allready say they should have dumped 1 well known actor and rented a RED camera.....

John Alan Simon (12 years ago) Reply

Radio Free Albemuth was shot with the high-end digital Thompson Viperstream - the same camera system that David Fincher used for "Benjamin Button" and "Zodiac." The trailer is not full-res.

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