THE LAWNMOWER MAN

US, 1992, 105 minutes, Colour.
Jeff Fahey, Pierce Brosnan, Austin O'Brien, Jenny Wright.
Directed by Brett Leonard.

The Lawnmower Man is a science fiction thriller about Virtual Reality - Virtual Reality being developed in the '80s and '90s, becoming more readily available towards the end of the century. As with many such stories, the focus is on government and military conspiracies taking advantage of the technology and using it for contaminated purposes.

The film is based on a Stephen King short story (though King is alleged to have disowned the film). It is a variation on the Frankenstein theme, Pierce Brosnan, as a scientist who experiments with the effect of Virtual Reality on monkeys, is forbidden to pursue his investigations, decides to use a simple-minded gardener - and finds that he has created a technological monster who is far more intelligent than he and who is contaminated by government and military. Jeff Fahey is effective as Jobe (symbolic name), the gardener - who is also presented as a Christ-figure with his cleaning the church, living in a church room, scenes with crucifixes, clashes with the priest who takes care of him - and the ultimate killing of the priest as well as the crucifixion images in the Virtual Reality conflict with the doctor.

The film was co-written and directed by Brett Leonard, is very effective in its computer visualisation of Virtual Reality and its impact. On video there is a director's cut which is longer by 30 minutes.

1.Virtual Reality, science fiction and science fantasy - and the reality of the '90s? The basis of the film on a Stephen King story?

2.The '90s and the future, technology? The suburban atmosphere contrasting with the laboratories? Plausible? The musical score?

3.The world of Virtual Reality, computer technology? Images and movements? Games? Reality and relationships, violence, sexual relationships? The threats, the struggles - Access Denied? Visions of the future?

4.The title, Jobe and his work, Jobe and the Virtual Reality images - the technological lawnmower of destruction?

5.The status of Virtual Reality in the 1990s? Audience response to the technology? Sharing the experiences of Jobe and the boy?

6.The story based on the Frankenstein legend, Dr Angelo as the scientist, Jobe as a '90s Frankenstein monster?

7.Dr Angelo, personality, his work with the monkeys, developing the technology, his being banned from further experimentation? His caution, the authorities? His personal background, relationships? His seeing Jobe, the friendship, neighbours? The friendship with the woman and her son?

8.Jobe, his work as a gardener, with the lawnmower? His mental simplicity? Working with Terry, their friendship? Mowing the lawns, the attraction of the neighbouring woman? Living in the church, cleaning the church, the symbolism of the crucifix, talking to Christ and the religious dimensions? The brutality of the priest, his beating him with the belt? The symbolic biblical name?

9.Dr Angelo's proposal, Jobe's response, the caution, the experiments? The young boy and his help, sharing the Virtual Reality games? His friendship with Jobe, with Dr Angelo? The transformation, the collage of learning, the pace of learning? The games and the experience? The attraction of the mother of the boy, her seduction of Jobe, the sexual relationship? Jobe changed, talking intelligently with Dr Angelo? Explaining the development of his mind? His capacity to levitate objects, his attempts to invade Dr Angelo's mind?

10.The military and the government? Seen on video screen? The meetings, the discussions? The military power? The bureaucratic types? Contaminating the program and Jobe's capacity for learning, becoming a military instrument?

11.Jobe as the Angel of Vengeance, the uniform, in Virtual Reality, in reality? The confrontation with the priest and his going up in flames? The background with the neighbour and the service station manager, his previous attitudes towards Jobe, the vengeance of the lawnmower? The military authority and his being disintegrated? The lawnmower of vengeance?

12.Jobe and his self-awareness, his belief in the experiments, his knowledge of what would happen - and therefore his decision to undertake the experiments himself?

13.Angelo appearing more and more human, helpless, wanting to confront Jobe, discovering the truth about the contaminated experiments? Enlisting the help of the boy and his mother? The chase, the headquarters? The ultimate explosions?

14.The final Virtual Reality game, Dr Angelo and Jobe, the struggle between good and evil? The technological images? The frequent use of Christian iconography - especially the crucifix? Dr Angelo crucified and Jobe as diabolical? Symbols of good and evil?

15.The apocalyptic ending of the experiment? The contrast with Dr Angelo and the mother and her son, the possibilities of an ordinary life? More controlled experimentation? More ethical? Jobe's earlier speaking of phones ringing - and the final collage of international cities and the phones ringing?

16.How effective the film as science fiction, science fantasy, moral fable?