Total Recall
1990
Director: Paul Verhoeven
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rachel Ticotin, Michael Ironside, Sharon Stone
Back in my college days, there was this philosophy professor who was absolutely revered. He had won every single conceivable teaching award out there and had started the honors program, of which I was a part, personally teaching the first course in the program, a philosophy class called “The Nature of Inquiry.” Everyone knew him, and everyone loved him. His name always seemed to be mentioned in hushed tones of awe. At the beginning of every school year, he would personally take the new members of the program to his home for a party. At this party, he always showed Total Recall.
Also back in my college days, where I met my husband, I also met my husband’s friends. They loved to get a few (dozen) beers on and watch Total Recall and laugh hysterically at line after line after line.
I mention this to point out on how many levels Total Recall works.
In the unspecified future, planetary space travel has been made not only possible, but easily feasible. Doug Quaid (Schwarzenegger) is having recurring dreams of Mars, despite the fact that he’s never been there. His unsupportive wife Lori (Stone) dismisses his obsession, so he seeks out the company “Rekall,” which specializes in implanting “fake” memories of trips never actually taken. He asks to have memories implanted of a two week trip to Mars where he is a secret agent instead of a construction worker. That’s when things begin to unravel. Quaid has a bad reaction to the implantation; turns out he’s ACTUALLY a secret agent (or is he?!?!), and his life isn’t really his life. Lots more plot complications ensue, Quaid goes to Mars, fights with rebels, battles for air, is relentlessly pursued by bad guy Richter (Ironside), makes out with Mars prostitute-slash-freedom fighter Melina (Ticotin), all while the body count piles up.
