5-4-Fri: Philip K. Dick

My boy, Philip K. Dick was a short story writer whose gifts keep on giving. Although he lived the low-income cliche lifestyle of a sci fi writer, his ideas have spawned some great multi-million dollar movies (and also, truth be told, some high-budget but not-so-great flicks; but the ideas are still captivating). Check out the legacy of a man who practiced the long-lost art of the inspiring short story:

1. Blade Runner - One of my favorite films EVER. With or without Harrison Ford's voice-over narration -- "They don't advertise for killers in the newspaper. That was my profession" -- the movie is an engrossing exploration of future dystopia, ethics, and that noir classic: love. Eighties mood-setter, Vangelis contributed a famously dreamy sound track and then-mega-stars Daryl Hannah and Rutger Hauer walked through the perpetually rainy streets of 2019 killing everything in their way. Based on Dick's "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?"

2. Total Recall - Overblown and Arnoldized, this adaptation of "We Can Remember It for You Wholesale" prefigured the Matrix. It showcases the great idea that your memories may not be your own. If you can look past the three-breasted aliens and stylized studio set violence, it is a great ride.

3. The Adjustment Bureau - Last weekend I saw this, the latest of the Dick adaptations. It is only at the end of the movie, really, that the limitations of streeeetching a short story into a full-length feature show. The rest is a pretty compelling series of awakenings by star Matt Damon and a futuristic flight-for-life from the shadowy powers-that-be with his lady love that would do J. J. Abrams proud. Based on the closely titled "Adjustment Team."

4. Minority Report - Once again, Tom Cruise's character is better. Than. Everyone. Else. in this creepy police thriller. Based on "The Minority Report," the action centers on a cop who pre-judges people for crimes they have not yet committed but will. Sure enough, it turns out that HE will need to be arrested, too. Break out a can of "Logan's Run" individualism and add in some screamingly insightful critiques of consumerist culture and you got yourself a film. Still, would rather have seen almost anyone other than the woefully-stylized Cruise in the lead role.

5. Paycheck - Such a great idea. Such a bad film. For my money, Ben Affleck owed us "The Town" solely as payback for this stinker. Based on the short story of the same title, our Jennifer-loving hero plays a reverse engineer who routinely has his memory erased after big jobs and wakes up one day to find himself persona non grata after what was to be The Big Job. So what does he do? Takes on the Man and action ensues. Pair this appetizer with a big Pino Noir and an entre of Christopher Nolan's frosh effort, "Memento" and enjoy a lovely evening.

PS - So many noir jewel lines in Blade Runner. "'Sushi,' that's what my ex-wife calls me: cold fish." "I didn't really need a translator. I knew the lingo, every good cop did. But I wasn't going to make it easier for him." "I didn't know how long we'd have together. Who does?" Oh, and "Watusi Rodeo" by Guadalcanal Diary is also gem from the '80s; now playing on iTunes.