Steven Spielberg’s Ready Player One presents a magical but very believable future for humanity.
In 2045 virtual reality has come to be the only life worth living, at least for most of humanity – game culture having reached a whole new level of addiction, especially in the virtual play of the OASIS; a gaming platform of multiple worlds that can provide everything you could ever dream of, or do they? Free to express yourself and to be who you want to be, the OASIS has become an obsession for some, and a great form of escapism for others. Seeing its commercial viability and greater potential for indebted slavery, a major corporation (IOI) seeks to control the OASIS, and to corrupt its very nature. With the freedom of the OASIS threatened, a group of “geeks” will come together to try to save it. In their treasure-hunting game they discover more about its creator, along with both the pitfalls and joys of virtual reality.
Inspired by the idea of living a life he never had, the late James Halliday (played by Mark Rylance) created the OASIS, his masterpiece to be enjoyed by all. But, in a style all too similar to Willy Wonka, Halliday has hidden within it an Easter Egg that will give not only huge wealth to its finder, but also total control of the OASIS. However, to ensure that the right person would find the egg he’s placed three hidden keys in his virtual world – each with an exhilarating challenge and riddle to follow.
With the competition launched, none are more desperate to get their hand on the OASIS than IOI (Innovative Online Industries); a corporation with no scruples and a huge amount of wealth. In this, Ready Player One has soft hints of socio-economic commentary; the capitalist company increasingly gets richer regardless of the cost to others, and with each new coin they take greater control and advantage over the poor.
Representing the little man in the fight against IOI, is our hero Wade Watts (he too acknowledges the superhero cliché of his name). A major fanboy of Halliday, Wade worships him for providing a world away from his life of abuse and neglect. He also identifies with his hero and sees a similarity in their thoughts, but is this enough to succeed in winning the game? And more importantly to avoid the real-life regrets of Halliday; his riddles and puzzles helping to show others not to follow in his mistakes.
Understanding he can’t defeat IOI on his own, and neither does he want to, Wade (Tye Sheridan) makes his first departure from Halliday; recognising the importance of keeping friends (a message rammed home in the film, whilst avoiding being saccharine-sweet). Wade therefore enlists a group of adventurers like himself, including Art3mis (Olivia Cooke) a rebellious leader and potential love-interest, Daito (Win Morisaki) and Sho (Philip Zhao), friends of Wade who are unfortunately pushed to the background. Their interaction with the other characters being all too brief, for when present they provide the much needed comic-relief and kiss-ass action of Ready Player One. Then last, but by no means least, is Aech (Lena Waithe), the wise-cracking engineer and best friend to Wade. The character again providing humour, along with a counter-point to Wade’s trusting-nature. I would have loved more scenes with Aech, especially in exploration of their home life – their character having a backstory that warranted investigation.
What’s also interesting is the avatar (a virtual figure) each character chooses to represent them in the game. Their appearance projecting what they wish about themselves; cool, confident, strong, and for one person to be seen without a birthmark – whether this was intended or not, it feels like a powerful message on loving your body, and a reflection on social media in how it portrays beauty.
The film’s antagonist is provided in the form of the IOI boss; Sorrento (Ben Mendelsohn), and unlike his avatar, he’s not a strong and domineering force, but instead is a sly, businessman with a cunning mind, which is much worse. Although Sorrento does hire the heavy guns to do his dirty work, both virtual and real. Oh, and did I mention Simon Pegg’s in the film too? A brilliant addition that gives the final stamp in my book of happy geekdom.
Throughout Ready Player One there’s also a combination of ‘live action’ filming; for the real world settings, and CGI creations; for the OASIS. This separation giving a clear distinction between the two. However, when a museum in the OASIS is dedicated to Halliday; his memories are arranged like an anthropological exhibition with ‘live action’ scenes being shown behind a sheet of glass. This attention to detail giving more than just a touch of the old circus, with the CGI avatars looking in on them in fascination. This reversal of imagery provides something of the surreal to the film, adding a sense of real-life being a thing of the past.
At the centre of Ready Player One is a family film about enjoying your imagination, while still engaging with the outside world and the potential to be had in it. Wade for example is eighteen, but at the beginning of the film he spends his days hidden from the world, and in his daily journey you see he’s not alone. Neighbours piled close together ignore one another as they play in the OASIS, even families are too busy to spend time together. The funny thing is most of them are seen to be acting out a reality that can be done in the real world; playing the piano, surfing, tennis, to pole dancing – yep, still a family film – and so there’s a point being made that these things are not beyond their scope. If only they could step away from their computer.
Yet, you can’t blame them for staying put; the OASIS appearing perfect, especially for geek and sci-fi lovers like myself, with a monster-mash collection of videogames, comics and pop-culture references. All of which are thrown in at every chance; Back to the Future, King-Kong, Tron, The Iron Giant, Jurassic Park, Star Wars, Alien, Saturday Night Fever, The Shining……and many, many more, leaving you fully hooked. Even James Halliday has more than a feel of the Wayne’s World about himself.
Bold, fun and highly entertaining Ready Player One celebrates technology, whilst recognising the trappings it presents in our increasing addiction to avoid reality. Richly rewarding for self-professed geeks and aficionados, with hundreds of hidden Easter-Eggs of its own, this film really has it all. In addition to which there’s a capturing of magic only Steven Spielberg can produce – transporting you to a time where films felt immersive, and Ready Player One is certainly that.
Director: Steven Spielberg
Other notable works:
- West Side Story 2021
- The Post 2017
- Five Came Back 2017
- All the Way 2016
- Bridge of Spies 2015
- Lincoln 2012
- War Horse 2011
- True Grit 2010
- Catch Me If You Can 2002
- Minority Report 2002
- Band of Brothers 2001
- Saving Private Ryan 1998
- The Last Days 1998
- Men in Black 1997
- Schindler’s List 1993
- Jurassic Park 1993
- Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade 1989
- Who Framed Roger Rabbit 1988
- Back to the Future 1985
- The Goonies 1985
- The Color Purple 1985
- Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom 1984
- Gremlins 1984
- T. the Extra-Terrestrial 1982
- Raiders of the Lost Ark 1981
- Close Encounters of the Third Kind 1977
- Jaws 1975
- Duel 1971
Writer: Zak Penn
Other notable works:
- Free Guy 2021
- Avengers Assemble 2012
- X-Men 2 2003
- Behind Enemy Lines 2001
- Last Action Hero 1993
Writer: Ernest Cline
Based on the book Ready Player One by Ernest Cline.
