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MoveeTime Review / October 29, 2006: After taking forever due to projects and personal issues, I will now review Looker as I promised :o) The movie cast includes Albert Finney, James Coburn, Susan Dey, You can find other details of this movie at IMDb LOCATED HERE

To start with, I am not real sure of this movie's rating. But due to nudity and violence I would assume it it rated R, and not suitable viewing for young children.

Now to the movie:

The opening Looker scene depicts a perfume commercial relevant to the era, and features the sexy Lisa character portrayed by Terri Welles. You might remember her as the one Playboy Enterprises sued (but failed) for using the term "Playmate of the Year" in 1998. Next you see her in consultation with Doctor Larry Roberts played by Albert FInney (Wolfen) about her flaws. Oddly, she comes prepared with a list with down to precise specifications. Mind you this is 1981 when the metric system was still pretty much a mystery to us laymans living in the USA. After the grabber (opening scene) the opening credits roll (caution: nudity), and the theme song "Looker" sung by Sue Saad, who's nice voice sort of reminded me of Sheena Easton.

During the theme song you see Lisa preparing for what appears to be a date. The doorbell rings and at the last moment Lisa decides to greet her "friend" in a seductive manner. She opens the door only to be greeted by a bright flash similar to that of a premier camera. But this is not the reaction you would expect from a person having a photo shoot. No anger like they would have to a paparazzi, or a toothy smile, just Lisa standing at the door with a blank stare. After Lisa snaps back to reality she hears a door close coming from inside her apartment, and of course being the typical curious woman in any movie, she investigates the sounds. She gathers up her little dog and searches around to see what or who might be lurking in her apartment. Then once again she is zapped by the bright flash. Only this time with tragic results as she becomes entangled in her drapes, and falls to her death from the balcony. I sort of felt sorry for the little dog in the scene. He kinda got dropped a bit hard from her clutches in the final moments before she falls :o)

After Lisa falls, you see a shadowy figure who was behind the drapes in the room. The person seems to be planting certain objects in the room which are a button and an ink pen. After this we meet CIndy played by Susan Dey (of course we all remember her from the TV show, The Partridge Family) Now we jump forward again using our media player classic's navigate option :O) We now see Doctor Roberts being questioned by a police detective. Liutenant Masters played by Dorian Harewood (Assault on Precinct 13. 2005) who believes Doctor Roberts is the prime suspect in the deaths of Lisa and Susan (You never see Susan). After this we meet the 3rd model. Tina. Tina is played by Kathryn Witt (Philadelphia). Tina is apparently scared of something, and in a panic runs from Doctor Robert's office leaving her purse behind. Doctor Roberts looks in her purse and discovers the list similar to Lisa's from a firm called Digital Matrix Inc. Matrix? hmmm :o) Not long after this Tina also meets her demise from a balcony fall. Now the plot unfolds deeper. Doctor Roberts is now curious about the Marix company and launches his own investigation. At this point we meet John Reston played by the late James Coburn (Our Man Flint and a long running list like a who is who in Hollywood) Reston is a wealthy business tycoon and ironically is associated with the owner of Digital Matrix, Jennifer Long. Jennifer's part is played by Leigh Taylor-Young (Dallas (tv), Spiritual Warriors). So now 3 models have died, and Roberts takes CIndy under his wing to protect her. Not only that, she is useful to his investigation because she has a contract meeting with Digital Matrix. So he takes her to her meeting, and while waiting outside Jennifer invites him in for a guided tour of the facility. While he is looking around, Doctor Roberts steals a pass card and ID badge. Well meanwhile CIndy goes to the Matrix labs. Here is where writer / director Michael Chrichton had some unique thoughts. Once again remember this is 1981, but for many of you using 3D programs these days, you will be amazed with the insight of the future this film predicts.

Well folks beyond this you will just have to go rent this movie yourself. Because if I continue, I will give away the whole plot :o) I will say that this movie in the acting department pretty much lacked a lot of the cast's better efforts. The plot seems to skip from relevant to irrelevant material in some spots, and tends at times to lose focus on subject matter. However I am still giving Looker 4 stars for it's originality, and applaud Michael Chrichton as a writer. Of course he would later go on to write blockbusters such as Twister, and Jurassic Park :o) Running time approx: 1 hour, 33 minutes / Rated: R

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