Morgan Sullivan (Jeremy Northam) is an out of work accountant who is stuck in an unhappy life in the suburbs, a miserable marriage and dreams of one day sailing away to a life of freedom and excitement. Seeling an escape from his lacklustre existence, and his overbearing wife, he decides to join the multinational corporation Digicorp to become a company spy. While carrying out his assignments Morgan meets an elusive and beautiful woman, Rita (Lucy Liu), who reveals to him that his activities have been a ruse to brainwash him and others like him.
With some hesitation, Morgan accepts her offer of anti-brainwashing drugs and is ultimately forced to work for a seemingly friendly agent from a rival company, Sunways. As a double agent, Morgan's survival lies deep in his mind and actions, but he's having difficulties distinguishing reality from the visions that plague him. Morgan's world has become a quagmire where the lines are blurred, where charades and dreams become truths.
Special Agent Matti
Cypher is a cross between Ballistic: Ecks vs Sever, Gattaca and Unbreakable. Some vague science fiction technobabble, some running around shooting at people, some mysterious stuff that twists your brain a bit and lots of styling. Jeremy Northam is a good patsy while Lucy Liu continues her fully-menstruating action-girl routine from Charlie's angels and Ballistic: Ecks vs Sever. Cypher is a fun and interesting film that you'll enjoy seeing once, maybe more depending on your proclivities.
M (Low level violence, low level coarse language)
95 minutes (1:35 hours)
Film: 14 August 2003