Freejack

In the year 2009, time travel has been discovered and a corporation called the McCandless Corporation has an exclusive monopoly over it, using it for their own selfish purposes. Freejack, a 1992 action/science-fiction film directed by Geoff Murphy, is set in this futuristic world. The movie stars Emilio Estevez, Mick Jagger, and Rene Russo.

The film opens with a high-speed car chase that ends in a crash, revealing that Estevez’s character, Alex Furlong, is a famous race car driver. At the same time, a group of time travelers attempts to kidnap him right before the accident. They are working for a wealthy businessman named McCandless, who intends to transplant his own mind into Furlong’s body. Furlong wakes up in the year 2009, after being cryogenically frozen for seventeen years.

Furlong’s body is initially rejected by McCandless, so he must escape into the real world before he’s recaptured. He receives help from a group of rebels led by Mick Jagger’s character, Victor Vacendak, who is also a time traveler. They are working to overthrow McCandless and the corrupt system he’s created around time travel. Rene Russo plays Julie Redlund, a young executive who helps Furlong escape from McCandless’ clutches.

As Furlong navigates this new world, he discovers that it is run by a small group of wealthy and powerful individuals who use time travel to evade death and maintain their grip on society. Time travel is also used by athletes to train long after they would have retired, allowing them to excel beyond their competitors. In this dystopian future, the rich and powerful have access to everything they need, while the rest of society is left to scrape by.

Furlong struggles to understand this new world and his place in it. He is constantly on the run, pursued by McCandless’ henchmen, including a menacing bounty hunter named Eagleman. He also learns that his former girlfriend, played by Amanda Plummer, is now married to McCandless. This revelation shakes him even further and fuels his desire to take down McCandless and his empire.

The film is filled with action-packed chase scenes and gunfights, showcasing Murphy’s skill as a director. The special effects, while dated by modern standards, are still impressive for the time. The film also raises thought-provoking questions about the ethics of time travel and its impact on society.

Freejack was not a critical success upon its release, but it has gained a cult following over the years. Estevez delivers a solid performance as Furlong, capturing the character’s confusion and determination. Jagger is a surprising stand-out, playing the enigmatic leader of the rebel group with charisma and conviction. Russo brings an emotional core to the film, and Plummer provides a suitable amount of madness as McCandless’ unhinged wife.

In conclusion, Freejack is an entertaining sci-fi/action movie with a compelling premise and talented cast. Despite its flaws, it is worth a watch for fans of the genre and those interested in exploring the ethical implications of time travel.