May 28, 1999
Web posted at: 3:34 p.m. EDT (1934 GMT)

By Reviewer Paul Clinton

(CNN) -- With society's current technology, everything from nuclear-test scenarios to aspects of space travel now can be simulated. What would happen if the boundaries between these illusory worlds and our own construct were less well defined? What would happen if the line between fact and fiction was blurred? What if it's already happened?

What if our whole world is just an illusion, a concept in our heads? There you have not only a trace of Plato's speculations, but also the premise for "The Thirteenth Floor."

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Theatrical preview for "The Thirteenth Floor"
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This film is based on a 1964 book, "Simulacron-3" -- also known by the title "Counterfeit World" -- by the late journalist and writer Daniel F. Galouye. The German theater and film experimentalist Rainer Werner Fassbinder made a television film from the work, the 1973 "Welt Am Draht."

The new adaptation stars Gretchen Mol, Vincent D'Onofrio, Craig Bierko, and Armin Mueller-Stahl in the leading roles of a story that takes virtual reality to a new level.

Two men, Douglas Hall and Hannon Fuller, played by Bierko and Mueller-Stahl respectively, create a simulation of 1937 Los Angeles on a computer chip. Think in terms of "Star Trek's" Holodeck.

Hall and Fuller get too involved with their invention as it takes on a life of its own. After Hannon makes one too many trips into the simulator, he mysteriously dies and it looks as if Douglas may have done the deed. Enter Hall's colleague Whitney, played by D'Onofrio, and the beautiful and mysterious Jane played by the beautiful and mysterious Mol.

The plot then turns inside out and the results causes everyone to question their perception of existence.

In that time-honored Hollywood tradition, dating back to "Frankenstein" and "The Invisible Man," we have a film in which man has created a scientific breakthrough with dire consequences that he can't control. And the premise for "The Thirteenth Floor," realities within realities, is clever. But the show ultimately fails to deliver.

Of course, with science fiction (or any other kind of fiction) you create a fake reality, just like the plot of this film. But there still must be a believable structure. Some of the plotting needed to get from point A to point B here are ridiculous. Such leaps of faith as these require toe shoes and a tutu. Ultimately they only damage the credibility of the story.

This is Mol's first breakout role and she's good. Ditto for Bierko and Mueller-Stahl. But D'Onofrio goes over the top at times and you can almost see pieces of scenery caught in his teeth.

Although the cinematography is the work of Wedigo von Schultzendorff, acclaimed cinematographer Michael Ballhaus is co-executive produce. His visual expertise and attention to minute details show in the final product. The segments of the film set in 1937 are crisp, just slightly otherworldly and a visual treat.

The film is produced by Roland Emmerich ,the German filmmaker who produced and directed "Godzilla" and "Independence Day." Emmerich's sister Ute served as a producer for this project and worked as executive producer on both those earlier films. Also on board is family-friend director Josef Rusnak, who worked as second unit director on "Godzilla."

In other words, special effects and working with computerized gadgets are not new concepts for this group of filmmakers. And it's important to note that while razzle-dazzle may have helped make "Independence Day" a huge hit, "Godzilla" proved that special effects alone can't save a film.

Bottom line: Even though "The Thirteenth Floor" has its moments and isn't a total washout, you can't help thinking that with the talent involved -- this should have been a much better movie.

And this film is set in 2024, just 25 years from now. Sorry, it doesn't wash. Although things do change at an amazing pace these days, the look forward here is so extreme that it's just not believable.

"The Thirteenth Floor" opens nationwide on Friday, May 28 and is rated R with a running time of 120 minutes.