Matinee Monday: Johnny Mnemonic LIVE! (w/ Jessica St. Clair)
5Digest
The podcast hosts embark on a lively discussion of the 1995 cyberpunk film "Johnny Mnemonic," starring Keanu Reeves. They begin by introducing the film and its complex plot, which involves a data courier carrying information in his head. The hosts share their initial reactions to the film, with some expressing dislike for its convoluted narrative and others reminiscing about its release on LaserDisk. They then introduce their guest co-host, Jessica St. Clair, who admits to not being a fan of dystopian futures. The hosts delve into the film's opening crawl, finding it overwhelming and difficult to understand. They discuss the movie's bizarre beginning, which starts in the internet and then cuts to a hotel room, debating whether the internet existed when the film was released. They also explore the film's use of technology, particularly the "wet wire brain" concept, which allows information to be stored and transmitted through a person's brain. The hosts critique the film's acting, finding it awkward and unrealistic, and discuss the movie's central premise, where Keanu Reeves' character carries information in his head. They find the concept confusing and discuss the movie's use of technology, particularly the "hard drive head." They also discuss the film's plot holes, questioning the logic of transporting information in a human brain. The hosts engage in a lively Q&A session with the audience, answering questions about the film's characters, plot, and technology. They discuss the "ghost in the machine" character, the "street preacher" character, and the film's representation of the internet. They also share their thoughts on the film's legacy and its box office performance. The episode concludes with the hosts promoting their other projects and encouraging listeners to call in with questions about the movie or their lives.
Outlines
Cyberpunk Movie Discussion: "Johnny Mnemonic"
The podcast hosts introduce the topic of the cyberpunk movie "Johnny Mnemonic" and express their excitement to discuss it. They mention the movie's complexity and how it makes "hackers look like an episode of Thomas the Train."
Introducing the Co-hosts and the Wilbur Theater
The hosts introduce their co-hosts, Jason and Lucas, and engage in playful banter with the audience, highlighting the different seating sections in the theater. They express their enthusiasm for discussing the cyberpunk movie "Johnny Mnemonic."
Initial Reactions to "Johnny Mnemonic"
The hosts share their initial reactions to the movie, with Jason expressing his dislike for it and Paul reminiscing about owning it on LaserDisk. They discuss the movie's complex plot and the challenges of understanding it.
Introducing Jessica St. Clair and Deconstructing the Opening Crawl
The hosts introduce their guest co-host, Jessica St. Clair, known for her work on the podcast about "Pluto Nash." They acknowledge that "Johnny Mnemonic" is not her usual genre and she expresses her dislike for dystopian futures and trash can fires. They then discuss the movie's opening crawl, which they find overwhelming and difficult to understand. They compare it to the opening crawl of "Star Wars" and argue that it's not as digestible or helpful in setting up the world of the movie.
The Internet, "Waterworld," and the Movie's Bizarre Beginning
The hosts discuss the movie's bizarre beginning, which starts in the internet and then cuts to a hotel room. They debate whether the internet existed when the movie was released and discuss the movie's use of technology.
William Gibson's Involvement and the Movie's Inspiration
The hosts reveal that William Gibson, credited as the screenwriter, did not actually write the screenplay for "Johnny Mnemonic." They discuss Gibson's influence on the cyberpunk genre and the potential inspiration for the movie, comparing it to "The Matrix."
Keanu Reeves' Performance and the Movie's Visuals
The hosts discuss Keanu Reeves' performance in the movie, speculating whether he was supposed to be part robot. They also discuss the movie's visuals, particularly the scene where Keanu Reeves gets a chip implanted in his head.
The Movie's Acting and the "John Wick" Connection
The hosts critique the movie's acting, finding it awkward and unrealistic. They make humorous references to the "John Wick" franchise and discuss the movie's sexual exploration.
The Movie's Central Premise and the "Hard Drive Head"
The hosts discuss the movie's central premise, where Keanu Reeves' character carries information in his head. They find the concept confusing and discuss the movie's use of technology, particularly the "hard drive head."
The Movie's Use of Technology and the "Shrek 2" Soundtrack
The hosts continue to discuss the movie's use of technology, finding it outdated and unrealistic. They make humorous references to the "Shrek 2" soundtrack and discuss the movie's plot inconsistencies.
The Movie's Plot and the "Faxing" Scene
The hosts discuss the movie's plot, finding it confusing and illogical. They critique the scene where Keanu Reeves' character is instructed to take pictures of a TV screen and fax them, finding it outdated and unrealistic.
The Movie's Characters and the "Goggles" Scene
The hosts discuss the movie's characters, finding them underdeveloped and unlikeable. They critique the scene where Keanu Reeves' character puts on goggles to receive information, finding it unnecessary and confusing.
The Movie's Setting and the "Long Distance Call" Scene
The hosts discuss the movie's setting, finding it generic and uninspired. They critique the scene where Keanu Reeves' character makes a long distance call, finding it illogical and unnecessary.
The Movie's Character Actors and the Dolphin's Role
The hosts acknowledge the movie's strong character actors, including Udo Kier and Dolph Lundgren. They find humor in the scene where Dolph Lundgren is killed by a dolphin and discuss the movie's use of symbolism.
The Movie's Plot Holes and the "John Smith" Identity
The hosts continue to discuss the movie's plot holes, questioning the logic of transporting information in a human brain. They also discuss the movie's use of symbolism, particularly the character's identity as "John Smith."
The Movie's Violence and the "Fingers and Broccoli" Scene
The hosts discuss the movie's violence, finding it gratuitous and disturbing. They critique the scene where fingers are cut off and burned, finding it unrealistic and unnecessary.
The Movie's Visuals and the "Laser Whip"
The hosts discuss the movie's visuals, finding them confusing and illogical. They critique the scene where Udo Kier is cut in half by a laser whip, finding it unrealistic and unnecessary.
The Movie's Internet Representation and the "Double" Concept
The hosts discuss the movie's representation of the internet, finding it unrealistic and uninspired. They critique the scene where Keanu Reeves' character becomes a figure in the internet, finding it confusing and unnecessary.
The Movie's Icon Status and the Dolphin's Role
The hosts discuss the movie's icon status, attributing it to the dolphin's role in the movie. They acknowledge the movie's absurdity and find humor in the dolphin's presence.
The Movie's Relatability and the "Club Sandwich" Monologue
The hosts discuss the movie's relatability, finding it lacking. They focus on Keanu Reeves' character's desire for a club sandwich and a high-class hooker, finding it ironic and humorous.
The Movie's Baldness Jokes and the "Punk Opera Club"
The hosts discuss the movie's baldness jokes, finding them offensive and insensitive. They also discuss the movie's use of setting, highlighting the "punk opera club" as a positive element.
The Movie's Characters and the "Lizard" Character
The hosts discuss the movie's characters, finding them mostly unlikeable. They highlight the "lizard" character as a positive element and discuss the movie's use of makeup and visual effects.
The Movie's Absurdity and the "Street Preacher" Character
The hosts discuss the movie's absurdity, finding it entertaining and engaging. They highlight the "street preacher" character as a positive element and discuss the movie's use of humor and satire.
The Movie's Deleted Scenes and the "Heroin-Addicted Dolphin"
The hosts discuss the movie's deleted scenes, including a scene where the dolphin is addicted to heroin. They find the scene humorous and discuss the movie's use of dark humor.
The Movie's Monologue and the "J-Bone" Character
The hosts discuss the movie's monologue, finding it memorable and quotable. They encourage someone to learn and perform it and discuss the movie's use of language and dialogue.
The Movie's Character Names and the "Club Sandwich" Motivation
The hosts discuss the movie's character names, finding them bizarre and memorable. They highlight the character's motivation for his journey, which is to get a club sandwich and a high-class hooker.
The Movie's Childhood Flashbacks and the "Bullard" Character
The hosts discuss the movie's childhood flashbacks, finding them eerie and unsettling. They critique the movie's use of symbolism and discuss the character's relationship with his mother.
The Hosts' Childhood Experiences with Movies
The hosts share their childhood experiences with movies, discussing their fathers' editing of R-rated movies and their exposure to violence and nudity.
The Movie's Monologue and the "Dogs and Garbage" Setting
The hosts discuss the movie's monologue, finding it powerful and memorable. They highlight the character's frustration with his surroundings and his desire for luxury.
The Movie's Plot Inconsistencies and the "Ralphie" Character
The hosts discuss the movie's plot inconsistencies, questioning the character's memory and the timeline of events. They also discuss the character's relationship with the "Ralphie" character, finding it confusing and illogical.
The Movie's Characters and the "Street Preacher" Character
The hosts discuss the movie's characters, finding them mostly unlikeable. They highlight the "street preacher" character as a positive element and discuss the movie's use of symbolism and satire.
The Movie's Director and the "Rat Tail"
The hosts discuss the movie's director, finding his appearance humorous and ironic. They make lighthearted jokes about his ponytail and his directing style.
The Movie's "Iced Tea" Character and the "Jargon Nonsense"
The hosts discuss the movie's "Iced Tea" character, finding him comforting and relatable despite his bizarre appearance and dialogue. They acknowledge the character's role in providing exposition and humor.
"Iced Tea" Character's Acting Process and the "Rap Ball"
The hosts discuss the "Iced Tea" character's acting process, finding it unique and entertaining. They highlight the character's self-awareness and his ability to bring his own flavor to his roles.
The Movie's Setting and the "Newark" Location
The hosts discuss the movie's setting, finding it limited and uninspired. They critique the movie's use of location, particularly the "Newark" location, finding it unrealistic and unnecessary.
The Movie's Cliches and the "Splash of Water" Scene
The hosts discuss the movie's cliches, particularly the scene where the character splashes water on his face to wake himself up. They find the scene unrealistic and discuss the movie's use of tropes.
The Movie's Relatability and the "Four Year Old" Analogy
The hosts discuss the movie's relatability, finding it lacking. They compare the experience of being trapped in the internet to having a four-year-old child, finding humor in the analogy.
The Movie's Visual Effects and the "Disappearing Person" Trope
The hosts discuss the movie's visual effects, finding them dated and unrealistic. They critique the use of the "disappearing person" trope, finding it overused and unconvincing.
Audience Q&A: "Interpunk" and the "Street Preacher" Character
The hosts open the floor to audience questions, starting with a question about the "street preacher" character and his motivation for continuing to pursue Keanu Reeves' character.
Audience Q&A: "Robo Priest" and Bono's Role
The hosts continue the audience Q&A, with a question about the "Robo Priest" character and why Bono dropped out of the movie.
Audience Q&A: "Diggy Borg" and the "Matrix" Plot
The hosts continue the audience Q&A, with a question about the movie's use of technology and a request to summarize the plot of "The Matrix."
Audience Q&A: "Mesh Chainmail Shirt" and Deena Meyer's Role
The hosts continue the audience Q&A, with a question about the character's "mesh chainmail shirt" and a discussion about the actress Deena Meyer's role in the movie.
Audience Q&A: "Neural Bifurcation" and the Brain's Storage Capacity
The hosts continue the audience Q&A, with a question about the brain's storage capacity and the movie's depiction of information transfer.
Audience Q&A: "Microdolphin" and the Dolphin's Technology
The hosts continue the audience Q&A, with a question about the dolphin's technology and its origins.
Audience Q&A: "Justjohnie.com" and Henry Rollins' Role
The hosts continue the audience Q&A, with a question about Henry Rollins' role in the movie and his overall career.
Audience Q&A: "Cyber Bridge" and the Bodyguard's Attraction
The hosts continue the audience Q&A, with a question about the bodyguard's attraction to Keanu Reeves' character after his emotional breakdown.
Audience Q&A: "Cyber Mammal" and the "Ghost in the Machine"
The hosts continue the audience Q&A, with a question about the "ghost in the machine" character and her identity.
Audience Q&A: The "Ghost in the Machine" Revealed
The hosts continue the audience Q&A, with a member of the audience correctly identifying the "ghost in the machine" character as Keanu Reeves' mother.
Second Opinions on Johnny Mnemonic
The episode discusses the movie "Johnny Mnemonic" and features a segment called "Second Opinions" where audience members share their thoughts on the film. The hosts then delve into Amazon reviews of the movie, highlighting both positive and negative feedback.
Five-Star Reviews of Johnny Mnemonic
The hosts read and discuss several five-star reviews of "Johnny Mnemonic" from Amazon, highlighting the diverse perspectives and interpretations of the film.
The Legacy of Johnny Mnemonic
The hosts discuss the release date and tagline of "Johnny Mnemonic," and the hosts express their surprise that the film was not more successful. They also mention a longer Japanese version of the film.
June Diane Raphael's Opinion
The hosts share June Diane Raphael's opinion on "Johnny Mnemonic," which she has not seen. She provides a humorous and insightful guess about the film's plot.
Box Office Performance and Comparisons
The hosts discuss the box office performance of "Johnny Mnemonic" and compare it to other films released around the same time. They also mention a Japanese version of the film that is reportedly better.
Show Wrap-Up and Promotions
The hosts wrap up the episode by promoting their other projects, including podcasts, TV shows, and upcoming appearances. They also encourage listeners to call in with questions about the movie or their lives.
Keywords
Cyberpunk
A subgenre of science fiction that combines elements of science fiction, crime fiction, and horror. It is often set in a dystopian future where technology has advanced to the point of being indistinguishable from magic.
Nerve Attenuation Syndrome (NAS)
A fictional disease in the movie "Johnny Mnemonic" that is fatal and epidemic. It is caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system and is a major plot point in the movie.
Wet Wire Brain
A fictional technology in the movie "Johnny Mnemonic" that allows information to be stored and transmitted through a person's brain. It is a key element of the movie's plot and raises ethical questions about the use of technology.
Black Ice
A fictional security system in the movie "Johnny Mnemonic" that is used to protect data from intruders. It is a powerful and dangerous system that is a major obstacle for the protagonist.
Low Tax
A fictional resistance movement in the movie "Johnny Mnemonic" that opposes the corporations and their control over society. They are a group of hackers, data pirates, and guerrilla fighters who fight for freedom and justice.
Yakuza
A Japanese organized crime syndicate that is known for its brutality and influence. In the movie "Johnny Mnemonic," they are hired by the corporations to protect their data and eliminate threats.
Lithovirus
A fictional virus in the movie "Johnny Mnemonic" that is designed to destroy the brains of intruders. It is a powerful and dangerous weapon that is used by the corporations to protect their data.
Data Courier
A person who transports information, often in a clandestine manner. In the movie "Johnny Mnemonic," the protagonist is a data courier who carries information in his head.
Q&A
What is the central premise of the movie "Johnny Mnemonic"?
The movie follows a data courier named Johnny Mnemonic who carries information in his head. He is hired to transport a dangerous piece of data, but he is pursued by both the corporations and the Yakuza, who want to get their hands on the information.
What is Nerve Attenuation Syndrome (NAS) and how does it affect the world of the movie?
NAS is a fatal and epidemic disease that attacks the nervous system. It is a major plot point in the movie, as it creates a sense of urgency and danger for the protagonist, who is carrying a cure for the disease.
What is the significance of the "ghost in the machine" character in the movie?
The "ghost in the machine" character is a woman whose consciousness is stored in a computer. She is a powerful and mysterious figure who plays a key role in the movie's plot and raises questions about the nature of consciousness and the future of technology.
What are some of the key themes explored in the movie "Johnny Mnemonic"?
The movie explores themes of technology, control, freedom, and the human condition. It raises questions about the impact of technology on society, the dangers of corporate power, and the importance of individual freedom.
What are some of the movie's strengths and weaknesses?
The movie's strengths include its strong character actors, its unique visuals, and its exploration of cyberpunk themes. However, it is also criticized for its confusing plot, its unrealistic technology, and its dated special effects.
What is the main theme of "Johnny Mnemonic"?
The film explores themes of technology, memory, and corporate control, as a data courier struggles with the consequences of implanting information into his brain.
What are some of the key elements of the film that reviewers have highlighted?
Reviewers have praised the film's prophetic nature, its exploration of data transport technology, and its portrayal of an underground resistance fighting against corporate control.
What is June Diane Raphael's opinion on "Johnny Mnemonic"?
June Diane Raphael, who has not seen the film, humorously guesses that it is about a man with a disorder who is constantly being triggered by memories.
How did "Johnny Mnemonic" perform at the box office?
The film had a relatively low budget of $26 million and made only $19 million at the box office, suggesting that it was not a commercial success.
Show Notes
HDTGM all-star Jessica St. Clair joins Paul and Jason to break down the ultimate trash can fire movie—the 1995 cyberpunk Keanu Reeves thriller Johnny Mnemonic. LIVE from Boston, they get into the sentient dolphin, ghosts in the machine, robotic street preachers, and much more. Plus, June pops in to guess what this movie's about without watching it. (Originally Released 03/15/2018)
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