I Origins

Written, edited, and directed by Mike Cahill, I Origins is the story of a graduate student whose study towards the evolution of the human eye has him meeting a young woman who would lead him into a path of discovery as it relates to his research with the aid of his lab partner. The film is a sci-fi drama that explores not just evolution but also humanity in the eyes of a man trying to understand questions he is daring to ask. Starring Michael Pitt, Brit Marling, Astrid Berges-Frisbey, Steven Yeun, and Archie Panjabi. I Origins is a rapturous and fascinating film from Mike Cahill.

The film revolves around a graduate student whose research into the evolution of the human eye would increase after a meeting with a mysterious young woman at a party where he would meet her again and later fall for her. It’s a film that isn’t just about obsession but also a man trying to see if there is any scientific explanation into the evolution of the human eye where he also want to disprove the ideas of faith and spirituality but not in a mean way. In the course of the journey that Dr. Ian Gray (Michael Pitt) would take, he wouldn’t just fall in love with this young woman named Sofi (Astrid Berges-Frisbey) but also be challenged by her in the ideas of spirituality. Yet, when his lab partner Karen (Brit Marling) makes a discovery that would prove his theory. Things would change as his time with Sofi would later haunt him for much of the film’s second half as he would go into a bigger journey.

Mike Cahill’s script has a unique structure as it play into Dr. Gray’s journey as the first half is about his time as a graduate student and his brief time with Sofi while the second half takes place seven years later where Dr. Gray has married Karen and would have a child. Yet, the program and ideas based on their research of the eye would lead to new questions as it related to not just images of what their baby would see but also into many bigger questions as it relates to matching eye patterns. It would lead to events in the third act where it isn’t just about Dr. Gray dealing with aspects of his past but also raise a lot of questions about if there is some kind of rational explanation as well as maybe there are things that can’t simply be answered.

Cahill’s direction is fascinating for not just the way he explores a man’s journey into his work as a scientist but also in the human aspects where he tries to make sense of the things he encounters. Shot on largely on location in New York City as well as India and bits of Boise, Idaho as it does have this sense of a large world as it relates to Dr. Gray’s research. While there are some wide shots in the film, Cahill maintains an intimacy as it relates to the drama where he uses some medium shots but also a lot of close-ups including extreme close-ups on the eyes. Cahill’s usage of hand-held shots and close-ups says a lot about what Dr. Gray is searching for as well as some very odd moments as it relates to the research and Karen would encounter. Also serving as the film’s editor, Cahill would create something that is straightforward with some montages as it play into Dr. Gray’s own thoughts and memories along with his own personal journey into his research which would take him to India in the film’s third act. Overall, Cahill creates a compelling yet mesmerizing film about a man’s research into the evolution of the human eye.

Cinematographer Markus Forderer does excellent work with the cinematography as it has some lovely lighting and interior shading for scenes set in the day and night in some scenes along with some of the low-key lighting for some of the daytime exterior scenes. Production designer Tania Bijlani, with set decorator Grace Yun and art director Alan Lampert, does fantastic work with the look of the lab as well as the apartment that Sofi lived in as well as the home that Dr. Gray and Karen would live in. Costume designer Megan Gray does nice work with the costumes from the more casual yet nerdy look of Dr. Gray to the more stylish look of Sofi.

The visual effects work of Michael Glen and Vico Sharabani is terrific for some of the minimal moments in the film including a crucial scene that would play an impact into Dr. Gray‘s life. Sound designer Steve Boeddeker does amazing work with the sound to play into some of Dr. Gray‘s research as well as the moments in some of the gatherings he would go to. The film’s music by Will Bates and Phil Mossman is superb for its electronic-based score that includes some ambient textures and bass-driven pieces while they would also provide additional music under the Fall on Your Sword banner with music supervisor Joe Rudge adding music to the soundtrack from some classical to a couple of pieces by Radiohead.

The casting by James Calleri, Paul Davis, and Dilip Shankar is wonderful as it includes some appearances and small roles from William Mapother as a preacher Dr. Gray meets in India, Cara Seymour as a doctor/researcher Dr. Gray and Karen meet in the second half as it relates to their child, Venida Evans as a diary farmer Dr. Gray meets in Boise, and Kashish as a young girl Dr. Gray meets in India. Archie Panjabi is fantastic as Priya Varma as a community center head in India who helps Dr. Gray find a girl that has this unique eye pattern while being someone who asks him rational questions on spirituality. Steven Yeun is superb as Dr. Gray’s research partner Kenny who would provide many connections as well as create a database for Dr. Gray in his research.

Astrid Berges-Frisbey is amazing as Sofi as this beautiful young woman Dr. Gray falls for where she provides something that is exotic but also challenges him into questions of spirituality. Brit Marling is brilliant as Karen as Dr. Gray’s lab assistant who would help him in finding the research and eventually become his wife where she would get him to take the next big step into his research that would lead him to India. Finally, there’s Michael Pitt in an excellent performance as Dr. Ian Gray as a graduate student/scientist who is trying to see if there is something to the evolution of the human eye as he copes with falling in love and later more questions about everything as well as there is a chance to disprove the ideas of faith.

I Origins is a marvelous film from Mike Cahill. Featuring a great cast as well as captivating take on the ideas of evolution and spirituality, it’s a film that showcases one man’s fascination with man’s evolution despite his apprehension towards the ideas of faith and spirituality. In the end, I Origins is a remarkable film from Mike Cahill.

Another Earth

© thevoid99 2016

The East (2013 film)

Directed by Zal Batmanglij and written by Batmanglij and Brit Marling, The East is the story about a young woman hired by a private intelligence firm to infiltrate a group of underground eco-terrorists. The film is an exploration into the world of anarchists where a young woman tries to see what they’re about and whether they’re doing something that is very noble. Starring Brit Marling, Alexander Skarsgard, Ellen Page, Toby Kebbell, and Patricia Clarkson. The East is a chilling yet gripping film from Zal Batmanglij.

The film is a suspense-thriller where a young woman who works for this private intelligence firm is hired to infiltrate an underground eco-terrorist group that has been attacking many corporations who have been known for their corruption. Upon infiltrating this group known as the East, Jane (Brit Marling) finds herself drawn to their cause as she realizes that their intention is to hurt these leaders and face the consequences of their actions. For Jane in her Sarah alias, she falls for the leader Benji (Alexander Skarsgard) as she learns more about his background as well as his associates in Izzy (Ellen Page) and Doc (Toby Kebbell). Particularly their motivations into being part of this group as Jane would report everything to her supervisor Sharon (Patricia Clarkson) but find herself in conflict with everything else she’s doing.

The film’s screenplay not only explores the conflicts that Jane/Sarah would deal with but also the sense of danger she is going into as she knows she’s getting too close to targeting Benji and the East. Yet, she realizes that the people they’re after are individuals who are responsible for ecological disasters that have killed or harmed innocent people through chemicals and such. Especially as Benji, Izzy, and Doc have been affected in some way over what has happened by these corporations as Jane becomes confused in helping them or helping Sharon who knows exactly what Jane is going through which adds an ambiguity to her character as she isn’t presented as a typical antagonist.

Zal Batmanglij’s direction is quite entrancing in the way he presents some of the attacks the East does where it’s very underground and secretive though their intention is to never kill anyone but rather hurt them. Much of the direction involve some hand-held shots as well as scenes where it adds to some of the elements of suspense where it’s shot around Shreveport, Louisiana to play into a world that is low-key but also has cities and such where Jane can go back to. Some of the compositions involve close-ups and medium shots where Batmanglij plays into the drama and suspense that includes a chilling moment in the film’s second act which involves Izzy and her motivations as it becomes a key turning point for Jane possibly wanting to help the East more. Overall, Batmanglij creates a very compelling and intoxicating film about an undercover agent who goes into deep into the world of an underground eco-terrorist group.

Cinematographer Roman Vasynov does excellent work with the film‘s cinematography from the usage of low-key lights for some of the scenes at night to some of the more natural setting in some of the forest scenes that is contrast to the lighting in the building that Jane works at. Editors Andrew Weisblum and Bill Pankow do amazing work with the editing with its usage of montages for the film‘s opening sequence to other array of stylish cuts to play into the film‘s suspense and drama. Production designer Alex DiGerlando, with set decorator Cynthia Slagter and art director Nikki Black, does superb work with the set pieces from the ruined house the East lives in to the more polished office and homes that Jane lives in when she‘s not undercover.

Costume designer Jenny Gering does nice work with the costumes from the polished clothes the East wears when they go undercover to the more ragged look when they‘re back at their secret home. Sound editor Andrew DeCristofaro does terrific work with the sound from the atmosphere of some of the antics the gang do to the quietness of the forest locations and where Jane lives. The film’s music by Halli Cauthery, with score themes by Harry Gregson-Williams, is wonderful for its mixture of electronic music and orchestral music to play into the film‘s suspense and drama.

The casting by Ronna Kress includes some notable small roles from Hillary Baack as a deaf-member of the East that Jane/Sarah befriends, Aldis Hodge as an aggressive member of the East, Han Soto as Sharon’s assistant, Jason Ritter as Jane’s husband, and Julia Ormond in a superb performance as a corporate official who deals with the same side effects that she’s been given during an attack by the East. Toby Kebbell is excellent as a doctor named Doc who deals with his illness as well as give reasons into why he became ill and his thirst for vengeance. Shiloh Fernandez is pretty terrible as the East member Luca as he looks like he just got out of a emo concert with too much eyeliner as he sometimes over acts in some intense scenes or looks like he’s about to take a shit.

Patricia Clarkson is amazing as Jane’s boss Sharon who keeps tabs on what Jane does while offering advice about getting to close and such. Ellen Page is fantastic as Izzy as this young woman who is wary about Jane joining the group only to have moment in the second half which reveals her reasons for being in the East. Alexander Skarsgard is brilliant as the leader of the East in Benji as a man who is determined to bring down corporations as there’s more to him than just some ragged, charismatic leader as Skarsgard brings this sense of humility and brooding persona to his role. Finally, there’s Brit Marling in an incredible performance as Jane/Sarah as an undercover agent trying to join the East and see what they’re up to as she becomes conflicted in doing her job as well as helping the East as it’s a role that is very understated yet engaging from Marling.

The East is a fantastic film from Zal Batmanglij that features remarkable performances from Brit Marling, Alexander Skarsgard, Ellen Page, and Patricia Clarkson. While it does have some conventional elements that is expected in a suspense-thriller, the film does offer some key insight into the world of eco-terrorism and their motives while adding some human elements into the story. In the end, The East is an extraordinarily powerful film from Zal Batmanglij.

Zal Batmanglij Films: (The Recordist) - Sound of My Voice

© thevoid99 2014

Sound of My Voice

Directed by Zal Batmanglij and written by Batmanglij and Brit Marling, Sound of My Voice is the story about a documentary filmmaking team who try to make an expose on a cult led by a mysterious leader who claims that she’s from the future. The film is about the world of cults and how two documentary filmmakers try to expose this leader only to fall prey into her world. Starring Brit Marling, Christopher Denham, and Nicole Vicius. Sound of My Voice is a chilling and provocative film from Zal Batmanglij.

The film is about the world of cults where two documentary filmmakers decide to join this strange cult in order to expose the leader only to fall prey into that world. During their time in these secret meetings with this leader who claims she’s from the future, things become even stranger as activities also become more questionable. Even as the substitute schoolteacher Peter (Christopher Denham) and aspiring writer Lorna (Nicole Vicius) go into diverging paths with the cult where one of them becomes seduced by the words and thoughts of its leader Maggie (Brit Marling). It’s a film that is filled with a lot of ambiguities as Peter and Lorna’s intentions were to bring Maggie and her cult down but things become very complicated. Even as some of Maggie’s antics would make them believe that everything she might be saying is true.

The film’s screenplay by Zal Batmanglij and Brit Marling has a structure where it all takes place in the span of ten days where Peter and Lorna do their activities in the daytime while would spend their time with this cult in the late nights. Upon arriving into this mysterious house, the two would have to shower and clean up anything that could have germs and wear these clothes. Then, they would be blindfolded and taken to a secret house and into a basement where Maggie lives as cult leaders would have members do a secret handshake and then meet Maggie who would hold a nightly meeting. There is a sense of repetition in the script as it would play into how these meetings would affect Peter and Lorna as their relationship would start to suffer. There’s also some ambiguities that is unveiled involving a young student of Peter’s school as well as a mysterious woman (Davenia McFadden) who would later play a key part into the film’s third act.

Batmanglij’s direction is pretty simple and understated as he shoots much of it in the Los Angeles area where Batmanglij manages to avoid some famed landmarks to go for something where it could be set anywhere. Yet, he maintains a sense of intimacy in much of his direction that does include some entrancing compositions in the way he puts his actors into the frame. Some of it is presented with hand-held cameras while there’s elements of suspense that Batmanglij creates to play into the world that Peter and Lorna have gotten themselves into. Especially as it would lead to this very chilling climax where it would showcase who is loyal to what Maggie wants but also reveal the other players that hadn’t been in touch with the cult as their roles are revealed. Overall, Batmanglij creates a very mesmerizing and entrancing thriller about the world of cults.

Cinematographer Rachel Morrison does excellent work with the film‘s very entrancing cinematography with its use of lights for many of the film‘s interiors and nighttime exterior scenes as well as some grainy video footage of the early lives of Lorna and Peter. Editor Tamara Meem does amazing work with the editing with its use of montages, jump-cuts, and other stylish cuts to play with the film‘s suspense and its unconventional structure. Production designer Scott Enge and set decorator Alys Thompson does nice work with the set pieces from the home that Peter and Lorna lives to the basement where Maggie conducts her rituals.

Costume designer Sarah de Sa Rego does terrific work with the costumes from the white clothes the cult members wear in the rituals to the casual look of Peter and Lorna outside of the cult. Sound editors Tobias Enhus and Patrick Giraudi do fantastic work with the film‘s sound from the way it plays up the suspense at the home where Maggie lives as well as some of sounds in the locations the characters go to. The film’s music by Rostam Batmanglij is superb for its ambient-based score with some folk textures and such to play into that sense of the unknown as he also contributes a couple of original songs that is sung by Libby Gery as well as a song by the British electronic group Hot Chip in the final credits.

The casting by Danielle Aufiero and Amber Horn is brilliant for the ensemble that is created as it features appearances from James Urbaniak as the father of a young girl that is featured prominently in the film, Richard Wharton as Maggie’s second-in-command, Kandice Stroh as a middle-aged cult member whom Lorna would socialize with, Alvin Lam and Constance Wu as other new members of the cult, and Avery Pohl as the young girl with a red hat who is one of the students that Peter teaches. Davenia McFadden is terrific as a mysterious woman who appear in the second act and later appear in the third as she would play a crucial role in uncovering the mystery that is happening.

Christopher Denham is excellent as Peter as he is the most skeptical of the two who would later find himself getting closer to Maggie while Nicole Vicius is amazing as Lorna who joins the cult with Peter as she deals with her new world and what it demands. Finally, there’s Brit Marling in a fantastic performance as Maggie as it’s one that is restrained at times but also very confrontational as she is this very odd yet engaging individual who could be telling the truth about her claims from being the future or she might be conning them.

Sound of My Voice is an extraordinary film from Zal Batmanglij that features an incredible performances from Brit Marling. The film is definitely an unconventional suspense film that plays into the world of cults and how two people try to expose them. In the end, Sound of My Voice is a remarkable film from Zal Batmanglij.

Zal Batmanglij Films: (The Recordist) - The East

© thevoid99 2014

Another Earth

Directed by Mike Cahill and written by Cahill and Brit Marling, Another Earth is the story of a young woman who remains haunted by an accident that has shaken her outlook on the world. After discovering a planet that looks like Earth, she ponders if there is someone like her in that planet. Starring Brit Marling, William Mapother, Jordan Baker, Robin Lord Taylor, Flint Beverage, and Kumar Pallana. Another Earth is a very interesting sci-fi drama from Mike Cahill.

Four years after an accident that left two people dead, Rhoda Williams (Brit Marling) has just been released from prison as she remains entranced by the image of a planet that looks exactly like planet Earth that is above in the sky. Unable to capitalize on her chance to enroll in MIT due to accident four years ago and refusing to interact socially. Rhoda takes a job working as a janitor at a local high school though many claimed she’s overqualified for the job. Still, it allows Rhoda to keep her mind away from things as she still ponders about the man named John Burroughs (William Mampother) who had survived the accident she caused.

Wanting to meet him and apologize for what she did, she goes to his home where she sees the depressed man at his home where she claims to work for a cleaning service. John lets her clean her home as a friendship starts to grow where the two talk about Earth 2 and other things. Though Rhoda wants to remain cautious about getting too close, things do intensify but also complicated due to the guilt that Rhoda is carrying. When Rhoda receives word about an essay contest that she entered that will take her to see Earth 2, she would make a decision about her growing relationship with John as well as the possibility of what is out there.

The film is about a young woman dealing with the guilt of a car accident that killed a man’s family as she is entranced by the appearance of another Earth. While it’s more of a dramatic film with some sci-fi elements, it is all about this young woman dealing with guilt and the idea that a planet could give her the chance to see if her life mirrors to what is happening to her or is it different over there. Screenwriters Mike Cahill and Brit Marling create a lot of these ideas about another world where people wonder if there’s a chance for a do-over or they’re seeing mirrors of themselves.

That is part of the focus on the story as it’s driven by this guilt-ridden young woman who had a lot of promise going for her only for this planet to arrive and change everything. The first two acts of the film start off strongly since the narrative does follow this young woman trying to figure out how to tell this man that she was the one who ruined his life. Of course, the narrative would require how would this woman would tell this man what she’s done where things do get messy in the third act. Largely because the film becomes a romance of sorts where it dwells into conventionality that leads to this expected moment where the result isn’t badly executed but doesn’t do enough to make it more powerful as it should’ve been.

Mike Cahill’s direction is definitely visually-entrancing for the way he creates compositions with moods to capture this woman’s anguish. The film opens with a scene of Rhoda partying and having a good time where it then leads to her looking at this blue glowing dot in the sky. The prologue is quite powerful as it then leads to this more dramatic narrative where Earth 2 is always appearing in the sky. Cahill’s direction includes a lot of amazing close-ups where he can say a lot but do it with such simplicity in the framing. A lot of it includes some grainy camera work from Cahill as he serves as the film’s cinematography to help create moods to let the drama play out as well in the editing that he provides where the jump-cuts and montages help play to the moodiness of the first two acts.

Cahill’s approach to the drama is also quite restrained until the third act where melodrama is expected but not handled in such a great way. The ending of the film is among one of the most frustrating elements depending on how one will interpret it. Yet, it does raise more questions about what Rhoda was looking for in that other planet. Despite the flaws the in the film’s third act, Cahill does make a compelling sci-fi drama that is willing to ask big questions.

Production designer Darsi Monaco does excellent work with the look of Rhoda‘s room in the attic to exemplify the simplicity that she craves for as well as the messiness of John‘s home to display his troubled mood. Costume designer Aileen Alvarez-Diana does nice work with the costumes as a lot of it is casual to display the development of the film‘s central characters. The visual effects work of Adam and Darren Fanton is superb for the way Earth looks up in the sky where it doesn‘t look cheap nor expensive for a low-budget film. Sound designer Ryan M. Price does wonderful work with the intimacy of the places that Rhoda encounters including the saw performance scene at an auditorium. The film’s score by Fall on Your Sword is a fantastic mix of ambient electronic music and low-key classical music ranging from piano pieces to somber string cuts.

The casting by James Calleri and Paul Davis is incredible for the ensemble that is created as it include memorable appearances from Jordan Baker and Flint Beverage as Rhoda’s parents, Robin Lord Taylor as Rhoda’s young brother Jeff, Meggan Lennon as John’s wife, and Kumar Pallana as an old janitor Rhoda works with. William Mapother is great as the depressed John Burroughs who displays a lot of restraint as a man who feels lost as he’s slowly coming back to life as a man and as a classical musician. Finally, there’s Brit Marling in a marvelous performance as the guilt-ridden Rhoda as Marling creates a performance that is mesmerizing for the way she deals with what she’s done. Notably as it’s a character who is flawed but also trying to find some kind of answer as it’s a true breakthrough for the newcomer.

Another Earth is a very good sci-fi drama from Mike Cahill that features terrific performances from Brit Marling and William Mapother. While it’s a very flawed film due to a messy third act, it’s also an ambitious one for a film that only cost $200,000 to make that dares to ask big questions. Notably as it chooses to infuse sci-fi ideas into a low-key dramatic setting. In the end, Another Earth is a film that is worth watching from Mike Cahill.

I Origins

© thevoid99 2012