The Thirteenth Floor (1999).

Once in a while you get a glut of films on a similar theme released around the same time and 1999 was the year when the world wasn't real (or was it?).

Along with eXistenZ and the previous year's Dark City, this film tends to get overlooked for The Matrix.

While this film is less action orientated and special effects lead than it's three cousins it actually treats it's audience more like children.

Every plot is broadcast well in advance, every revelation is hammered home (Ric Olie style).

It does however look good, the protagonist spends much of his time in what appears to be the same Frank Lloyd Wright apartment that Rick Deckard used in Blade Runner (often lit the same way too) which fits the subject matter rather well. The sections in the thirties are stylish too.

While there aren't many surprises it's still well worth a watch.