Radio Free Albemuth

Name: Radio Free Albemuth
Genre: Sci-Fi, Drama
Released: June 27, 2014
Duration: 111 min
Rating: 35

2014

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 6 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 8 Ratings

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7.4

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7.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 8 Ratings

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Radio Free Albemuth

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Movie Details & Credits

Freestyle Releasing | Release Date: June 27, 2014 | R

Summary: 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 aBerkeley 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).… Expand

Director: John Alan Simon

Genre(s): Sci-Fi, Drama

Rating: R

Runtime: 111 min

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Critic Reviews

Richard Kuipers

Jun 24, 2014

The narrative delivers satisfying intrigue and suspense. Read full review

McClatchy-Tribune News Service Roger Moore

Jun 25, 2014

Just stumbles on and on, introducing new theories and facts and then explaining, explaining explaining them, right up to the closing credits. Read full review

Sara Stewart

Jun 25, 2014

Despite the dramatic dystopia, performances here are uniformly low-affect, which isn’t helpful given the exposition-heavy dialogue and unremarkable set (though Nick’s extraterrestrial visions have a pleasantly kitschy look). Also puzzling is the fact that the pivotal song is not actually performed by Morissette. Read full review

Abby Garnett

Jun 24, 2014

In an alternate universe, this might be a cult hit; as it is, Albemuth will only be fun for diehards. Read full review

Gary Goldstein

Jun 26, 2014

First-time writer-director John Alan Simon simply doesn't have a strong enough grip on the movie's narrative, pacing or performances to surmount the pitfalls of this ambitious, budget-conscious effort. Read full review

Jeannette Catsoulis

Jun 26, 2014

This lifeless adaptation only proves that making entertaining movies out of hard-to-swallow ideas is as challenging as you might think. Read full review

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User Reviews

Tss5078

Nov 10, 2014

From Philip K. Dick, the mind behind the Terminator, Blade Runner, & Total Recall, (just to name a few) comes one of his most abstract and best reviewed novels, Radio Free Albemuth. Since being released in the early 80's, Science Fiction fans and literary scholars alike have analyzed it overFrom Philip K. Dick, the mind behind the Terminator, Blade Runner, & Total Recall, (just to name a few) comes one of his most abstract and best reviewed novels, Radio Free Albemuth. Since being released in the early 80's, Science Fiction fans and literary scholars alike have analyzed it over and over again. They seem to think there is a deeper meaning, but to me the meaning of the story is simply that every single person can make a difference and change the world, if they are inspired to do so. Radio Free Albemuth is Philip K. Dick's biography, only in an alternate universe. Dick is a Science Fiction writer and the narrator of the film, who tells the story of his friend Nicholas Brady (Jonathan Scarfe). Brady is an ordinary guy who one day starts receiving visions of the future. Most people think Brody is crazy, especially his wife, until all of his predictions start to come true. Brady moves his family to L.A., where he becomes a record executive and that's where the story really takes off. The world these people live in is a police state, cause by the hysteria brought on by terrorism and The Cold War. Brady comes to realize that he is the key to changing the world for the better. All he has to do is find out how to do it and who or what is instructing him to do so. The alternate Phillip K. Dick, played admirable by Shea Whigham, is a witness to the events and makes it his mission to chronicle the work of his friend. Like most writers, Dick was known for being more than a little eccentric and many have questioned where this story came from, and weather or not Dick believe he was experiencing the same types of messages that Brady was. As for the film, it is just so well done, and I've always love stories that take place in alternate realities. The story is as much political as it is scientific, and when you throw in the inspirational message that anyone can change the world for the better, you've got one hell of a story. From beginning to end, the cast is terrific, especially the mysterious Sylvia, played by Alanis Morrisette of all people. I knew she was in Dogma, but I had no idea just how good and actress she could be, isn't it ironic? Radio Free Albemuth has everything I look for in a movie and then some, and it is written by one of the best there ever was, I can't possibly recommend it enough.… Expand

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jeremyboden

Aug 2, 2016

This is a great film, PKD fans can check out the references. But for the rest of us we can enjoy a film with a chilling prediction behind it. One that seems to be coming ever closer.

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Jeebus117

Feb 15, 2021

Source material was very strong. Execution wasn't. The concept was pretty standard from PKD, meaning it was quite good. The problem was that it was sold poorly, and didn't receive the funding to make a good movie. The director didn't have a unique voice, or even try to capture PKD's. TheSource material was very strong. Execution wasn't. The concept was pretty standard from PKD, meaning it was quite good. The problem was that it was sold poorly, and didn't receive the funding to make a good movie. The director didn't have a unique voice, or even try to capture PKD's. The actors were alright, but the dialogue had some very week moments. Overall, it just feels like a very strong book that was turned into a pretty mediocre movie. Worth watching, for concept alone.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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