Annihilation

Based on the novel by Jeff VanderMeer, Annihilation is the story of a group of military scientists who enter a mysterious zone where landscapes change as they also encounter creatures that transform. Written for the screen and directed by Alex Garland, the film is a sci-fi horror film that follow a group of women who travel to this quarantined zone as one of them tries to understand what her husband had encountered. Starring Natalie Portman, Tessa Thompson, Gina Rodriguez, Tuva Novotny, Oscar Isaac, and Jennifer Jason Leigh. Annihilation is an eerie yet evocative film from Alex Garland.

The film revolves a biologist who volunteers to join a group of military scientists into a mysterious zone where its surroundings change as it include mysterious creatures and things that are indescribable with the biologist wondering why her husband was the only one to return from that area. It’s a film that has a compelling premise yet it is largely told in a reflective manner by its protagonist Lena (Natalie Portman) to a scientist in quarantine as Alex Garland’s script uses Lena to explain what she and her team saw in the zone with questions about what happened to her husband Kane (Oscar Isaac) who had returned from the zone but isn’t the same person. Even as the army has taken him and Lena believing that there is something wrong with them yet it is Kane that is ill with Lena wondering what really did happen to him.

The screenplay has Lena tell her story to this scientist as she also thinks about her life with Kane but also the anguish she faced when he wasn’t around. While she was approached by army psychologist Dr. Ventress (Jennifer Jason Leigh) who revealed what Kane and his team were at the zone known as the Shimmer. Lena eventually decides to volunteer with Dr. Ventress and a team that includes two military scientists in Josie (Tessa Thompson), Cassie (Tuva Novotny), and the paramedic Anya (Gina Rodriguez). Much of the film’s second and third act occur in the Shimmer as it is a world that is unlike anything where mutation is common while there’s a lot of complexities into the environment that these women are all trying to understand as they all try to reach the lighthouse where the source of everything that happened is.

Garland’s direction is definitely intoxicating for the way he creates a world that is strange and surreal but also filled with wonders that play into the complexities of humanity and nature. Shot largely on location at Windsor Great Park as well as Holkham Pines in North Norfolk in Britain, the film does play into this strange mix of sci-fi and horror as Garland does maintain this air of suspense. While the film does have conventional elements relating to horror in what these women encounter, there is this conflict about what these women want to do with their mission as it intensifies during its second half. The scenes set at the Shimmer definitely echoes a lot of the visual compositions of Russian filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky in terms of the attention to detail in the images as well as in some of the surreal elements. The usage of wide and medium shots play into that sense of wonderment that include some of the creatures that Lena and her team would encounter throughout the course of the film.

Garland would also use surrealism to play into the landscape and things that the characters would find at the Shimmer. Even as it play into idea of science where Lena, Dr. Ventress, Cassie, Josie, and Anya each give their own take of what they find. The third act isn’t just about going into the lighthouse which is where the source of the Shimmer comes from but also what happened to those who went to the Shimmer and never came back. The land surrounding the lighthouse is just as unique where there is something that is beautiful and enchanting but also filled with a sense of terror into what is the source of all of these things. Even as Lena has to deal with what she discovered and cope with what happened to her husband and how he was able to return home. Overall, Garland crafts a ravishing yet haunting film about a group of scientists entering into a mysterious world where the laws of nature is different and ever-changing.

Cinematographer Rob Hardy does brilliant work with the cinematography to play into the low-key yet stylish lighting for the scenes at the lab and military compound as well as a more natural look at Lena’s home with something dream-like in the scenes set at the Shimmer. Editor Barney Pilling does excellent work with the editing as it does have some style in a few flashback montages of Lena thinking about her life with Kane as well as some rhythmic cuts that play into the suspense. Production designer Mark Digby, with set decorator Michelle Day and supervising art director Denis Schnegg, does amazing work with the look of the military bases as well as some of the places inside the Shimmer including the lighthouse. Costume designer Sammy Sheldon does nice work with the costumes as it is largely casual including the army uniforms that almost everyone wears in the film.

Hair/makeup designer Sian Grigg does terrific work with the look of the characters to play into their personalities including how Kane looked before his mission and what he looked like afterwards. Visual effects supervisor Andrew Whitehurst does incredible work with the visual effects in the design of the creatures as well as the landscapes and such inside the Shimmer. Sound designer Glenn Freemantle does fantastic work with the sound as it is a highlight of the film as it play into the atmosphere of the Shimmer as well as sound textures into what the creatures sound like. The film’s music by Ben Salisbury and Geoff Barrow is superb for its mixture of ambient and folk in the music as it help play into the drama and suspense while the soundtrack mainly features a song from Crosby, Stills, and Nash.

The casting by Francine Maisler is wonderful as it include a few notable small roles from Sonoya Mizuno in a dual role as a student of Lena in Katie and a mysterious being at the Shimmer, David Gyasi as a colleague of Lena in Daniel who also works at the university where she’s a professor, and Benedict Wong as the scientist Lomax who interrogates Lena following the events of what she encountered at the Shimmer. Oscar Isaac is terrific in his role as Kane as Lena’s husband who returns from the Shimmer a different man where he is restrained and uncertain of where he is in comparison to who he is in the flashbacks as someone lively and animated. Tuva Novotny is fantastic as Cass as a military scientist who takes part in the mission as she is tough but also friendly as she befriends Lena as they both share stories of loss. Gina Rodriguez is excellent as Anya as a military paramedic who is a tough woman that is baffled by what she discovers as well as coping with the harsh environment of the Shimmer that allows her to act out.

Tessa Thompson is brilliant as Josie as a scientist who would make some discoveries about the landscapes and organisms at the Shimmer as well as provide some ideas of what is happening. Jennifer Jason Leigh is amazing as Dr. Ventress as military psychiatrist who leads the team as she wants to know what is out there while knowing why Lena chose to volunteer as she is also dealing with a secret of her own. Finally, there’s Natalie Portman in an incredible performance as Lena as a biologist who is trying to understand what happened to her husband while carrying elements of guilt as a way to redeem herself for him where she would make some unsettling discoveries but also make sense of the world that she is in as it’s one of Portman’s finest performances.

Annihilation is a phenomenal film from Alex Garland that features great performances from Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Tessa Thompson. Along with its ensemble cast, gorgeous visuals, compelling story of nature, and an eerie music score. It’s a film that blends all sorts of genres while exploring the ideas of people dealing with surroundings that are complex and breaking the laws of nature. In the end, Annihilation is a sensational film from Alex Garland.

Related: Ex-Machina

© thevoid99 2018

The Beach (2000 film)

Based on the novel by Alex Garland, The Beach is the story of an American college student who travels to Thailand to find a mysterious island with a couple of young French people as they find all of the splendor as well as danger about its secrecy. Directed by Danny Boyle and screenplay by John Hodge, the film is an exploration into the idea of paradise only for things to go wrong when there isn’t such a thing. Starring Leonardo diCaprio, Virginie Ledoyen, Robert Carlyle, Guillaume Canet, and Tilda Swinton. The Beach is a mesmerizing yet uneven film from Danny Boyle.

Set largely in Thailand, the film follows an American college student who is given a map to a mysterious island as he brings along a French couple to join him where they find paradise but have to take great risks to maintain its secrecy. It’s a film that isn’t about people trying to find something different from the many conventional ideas of being on vacation but also wanting something more. Yet, their discovery of a secret community who wants to maintain that sense of paradise eventually becomes uneasy where it is clear that its habitants are sharing the island with Thai cannabis farmers who aren’t so keen in letting anymore outsiders into the island. John Lodge’s screenplay is largely told from the perspective of its protagonist in Richard (Leonardo diCaprio) as this young American college student who goes to Thailand seeking adventure and something different from the banality of conventional society.

Lodge’s script succeeds in exploring the island and why it’s so secretive as well as establish the characters such as Richard, the French couple Etienne (Guillaume Canet) and Francoise (Virginie Ledoyen), one of the island community’s founder in Daffy (Robert Carlyle) who would give Richard the map to the island, and the community’s leader Sal (Tilda Swinton). Yet, it’s in the narrative and its tone where the script falters as the first half starts off as this adventure for paradise where everything seems fine. Then it darkens once it moves into the second half where a community resident’s death starts to shake things where it goes into bits of surrealism as well as some dark suspense about what some will do to maintain this place a secret. It becomes a different film as well as something very strange where Richard is forced to watch outsiders who have a copy of a map that Richard drew for these American stoners as it would lead to all sorts of trouble.

Danny Boyle’s direction is definitely stylish in terms of not just the setting of the locations but also in the surreal elements in the film. Shot on location in parts of Bangkok and at the Maya Bay at Ko Phi Phi Lee in Thailand, the film plays into a world that is in conflict with the chaos of modernism and the serenity of this beach that Richard, Etienne, and Francoise would discover and live at for a time. Boyle’s usage of the wide and medium shots would play into the beauty of the locations as well as the sense of community in the people who live near the beach. Boyle would also use close-ups and some gorgeous shots for some of the intimate moments yet he is faltered by the film’s uneven script. Notably in the second half where it gets dark as it does feel like a different movie as it includes this very weird video game sequence where Richard pretends to be in a video game as it also include some references to Apocalypse Now as its third act is a really messy one. Though it would have a strong conclusion as it play into the fallacy of paradise, it also shows some of the ugliness in humanity that is no different from the chaos that is happening in the modern world. Overall, Boyle creates a compelling yet flawed film about a young man finding a map leading to paradise only it isn’t what it really seems to be.

Cinematographer Darius Khondji does brilliant work with the film‘s colorful cinematography in capturing the beauty of the beach locations in the day as well as some of the scenes set at night along with some of the scenes set in Bangkok. Editor Masahiro Hirakubo does nice work with the editing as it has some stylish rhythmic cuts and jump-cuts to play into the frenetic energy as well as in some of the low-key dramatic moments. Production designer Andrew McAlpine, with set decorator Anna Pinnock and supervising art director Rod McLean, does fantastic work with the look of the hotel rooms in Bangkok as well as the little resort the residents of the beach live at. Costume designer Rachel Fleming does terrific work with the costumes as it is mostly casual with the exception of the clothes that Sal wears that emphasizes her role as a leader.

Special effects supervisor Clive Beard and digital visual effects supervisor Robert Duncan do some fine work with the minimal visual effects as it involve a sequence with sharks as well as a balloon ceremony. Sound designer Glenn Freemantle does superb work with the sound as it play into some of the sparse and intimate moments at the beach to the layers of sound in Bangkok as it‘s unruly. The film’s music by Angelo Badalamenti is wonderful for its ambient-based score to play into the serenity of the island while music supervisor Pete Tong provide a fun soundtrack that features a few score pieces from John Cale and Brian Eno plus contributions by New Order, Blur, Moby, Faithless, Barry Adamson, Sugar Ray, All Saints, the Chemical Brothers, Unkle with Richard Ashcroft, Orbital, Leftfield, Underworld, and Asian Dub Foundation.

The casting by Gail Stevens is marvelous as it feature some notable small roles from Peter Youngblood Hills and Jerry Swindall as a couple of American tourists Richard meet on the way to the mysterious beach, Saskia Mulder and Simone Huber as the German girlfriends of those American tourists, Staffan Kihlbom, Jukka Hiltunen, and Magnus Lindgren as a trio of Swedish residents of the beach, Daniel Caltagirone as the community’s chef Unhygienix who has an unhealthy obsession with being clean, and Lars Arentz-Hansen as Sal’s boyfriend/community carpenter Bugs who has a dislike towards Richard and vice versa. Paterson Joseph is superb as Keaty as a member of the community who is kind of the film’s conscience as he starts to see the community unravel following an incident as well as try to get Richard to see reason when he is tasked by Sal to do something about the unwelcome visitors. Abhijati “Meuk” Jasakul is terrific as the head cannabis farmer who doesn’t like outsiders as he has this very eerie presence as well as someone who has found a way to live outside of the modern world without compromise. Robert Carlyle is fantastic as Daffy as a founder of the beach whom Richard meets in Bangkok as a man who has become insane and displays his own disdain towards modern society as he would give Richard the map to the beach.

Tilda Swinton is brilliant as Sal as the beach community’s leader who allows Richard, Etienne, and Francoise to be part of the community as she is intent on keeping the secrecy of the beach by any means necessary. Guillaume Canet is excellent as Etienne as a young Frenchman who is the most helpful and skilled person of the trio as he also finds himself competing with Richard for Francoise’s affection. Virginie Ledoyen is amazing as Francoise as a young Frenchwoman who goes on the journey as she is the most artistic as she is charmed by Richard as well as become disenchanted with Sal’s refusal to accept the real consequences of some of the tragedies that occur. Finally, there’s Leonardo diCaprio in a remarkable performance as Richard as a young American college student seeking adventure only to find horror later on as he nearly loses it as it one of diCaprio’s more overlooked performances that has him be full of energy as well as display some eerie moments.

The Beach is a terrific yet flawed film from Danny Boyle. Despite its messy and inconsistent script, the film does feature an excellent soundtrack, beautiful locations, and a fantastic cast led by Leonardo diCaprio. In the end, The Beach is a stellar film from Danny Boyle.

Danny Boyle Films: Shallow Grave - Trainspotting - A Life Less Ordinary - 28 Days Later - Millions - Sunshine - Slumdog Millionare - 127 Hours - Trance - Steve Jobs - T2 Trainspotting - (Yesterday (2019 film))

© thevoid99 2016

28 Days Later

Directed by Danny Boyle and written by Alex Garland, 28 Days Later is the story of a young man waking from the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse as he and other survivors try to find a way to survive and evade other zombies. The film is a zombie movie that is set in Britain where survivors of an apocalypse try to comprehend what had just happened as they deal with a new yet unruly world. Starring Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris, Brendan Gleeson, Megan Burns, and Christopher Eccleston. 28 Days Later is a harrowing yet rapturous film from Danny Boyle.

A young man wakes up after being comatose for 28 days where he wakes up having missed a zombie apocalypse that has wreaked havoc all over Britain where he would meet a few survivors as they try to find civilization and evade the zombies. That is pretty much what the film is about as it revolves around those who survived an apocalypse caused by a bunch of idiotic animal activists who tried to release monkeys who were infected with rage as it leads to an outbreak that lasted nearly a month leaving Britain in a state of chaos with very little hope. Alex Garland’s screenplay begins with this incident caused by activists and then has the narrative shift to 28 days later where a young man wakes up in a hospital unaware of what had happened until he meets a few survivors. He would also get a glimpse of what is happening as there are some zombies still roaming around London as he and some survivors try to find a place where they can be protected. Yet, they would also have to deal with some dark aspects of humanity as well as revelations about the outbreak and what is going on outside of Britain.

It’s not just in the narrative and the severity of what is at stake that makes Garland’s script so interesting. It’s also in the characters as the protagonist Jim (Cillian Murphy) is someone that is taken aback by this new reality he’s encountered as well as what he has to do to survive. Upon meeting Selena (Naomie Harris) who saved him during an attack, he would be forced to accept this reality as Selena is someone who has been hardened by the zombie apocalypse. Yet, she isn’t sure if there is any kind of hope while isn’t eager to cling on to some kind of humanity until she and Jim meet Frank (Brendan Gleeson) and his teenage daughter Hannah (Megan Burns) where they’re both able to find a void that had been lost since the apocalypse. Once they find shelter in the form of a military blockade led by Major Henry West (Christopher Eccleston), the survivors would only see the dark aspects of humanity prompting Jim to do whatever to save himself and his new friends.

Danny Boyle’s direction is definitely stylish as it’s got a look that is very de-saturated in its digital-video photography as well as something that looks surreal. Shot on location in London as well as other parts of Britain as it play into a world that has collapsed where Britain is now abandoned with very little hope. The film’s opening sequence is quite chilling as it shows a chimpanzee watching images of violence and terror where a group of activists break in to try and free these chimps only for a scientist pleading for them to not as all hell breaks loose. Then the film goes into its main narrative following a montage over the zombie apocalypse as it play into Jim discovering this new world of abandonment and loss. Boyle’s usage of wide and medium shots play into the location as well as that sense of uncertainty where many of its locations are in ruins or abandoned while the rural settings seem more calm. Boyle’s usage of handheld cameras play into the close-ups as well as the immediacy of the action as the zombies are fast-moving and more vicious in their presentation.

While Boyle would put in some light-hearted moments as well as scenes that are funny such as a supermarket sequence where Jim, Selena, Hannah, and Frank go on a shopping spree inside an abandoned supermarket. It is still a suspense-horror film of sorts where the third act is very unsettling where the characters not only have to deal with Major West and his crew but what they want to do to ensure their future. It’s a part of humanity that Jim doesn’t like as well as some harsh truths about what has happened where it is clear that there are those who are trying to rebuild society on their own terms. For Jim, what he would do isn’t just providing some sense of hope but also do something about it in dealing with the fact that not all of humanity are just as bad as the zombies. Overall, Boyle creates a thrilling and evocative film about human survivors dealing with the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse.

Cinematographer Anthony Dodd Mantle does incredible work with the film‘s de-saturated digital video photography as it has this grimy look in the way many of the colors look and feel like as well as in the way some of the interiors and exteriors scenes at night look. Editor Chris Gill does brilliant work with the editing with its usage of jump-cuts as well as some of the playful rhythms to play into light-hearted moments and the scenes of horror. Production designer Mark Tildesley, with set decorator Fanny Taylor and supervising art director Mark Digby, does excellent work with the look of London in its ruined state as well as the mansion that Major West and his men live in. Costume designer Rachel Fleming does nice work with the costumes as it is mostly casual with the exception of the uniforms the soldiers wear.

Makeup designer Sallie Jaye does amazing work with the makeup design in the way the zombies look in their decayed state as it captures every bit of detail into how deadly they look. Sound designer Glenn Freemantle does fantastic work with the sound editing/design in creating some unique sound effects as well as the layered sounds of chaos and terror that play into some of the frenetic moments of the film. The film’s music by John Murphy is superb for its electronic-based score that feature some beat-driven pieces as well as some ambient cuts while the soundtrack features music from Brian Eno, Grandaddy, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and Blue States as it plays to the mixture of serenity and terror.

The casting by Gail Stevens is wonderful as it feature some notable small roles from David Schneider as the scientist in the film’s opening sequence, Noah Huntley as a survivor named Mark that Jim meets early in the film, Stuart McQuarrie as the soldier Sgt. Farrell who is the most sensible soldier of the platoon, and Ricci Hartnett as Cpl. Mitchell who sees Hannah and Selena as objects he can impregnate for the future. Christopher Eccleston is superb as Major Henry West as a military leader who is trying to maintain some order for his troops and survivors while having his own ideas about what to do for the future. Brendan Gleeson is excellent as Frank as a cab driver who is kind of this fraternal figure of sorts as he has his own daughter to care for while being a source of comfort for both Jim and Selena who both lost their own families.

Megan Burns is fantastic as Hannah as Frank’s teenage daughter who is trying to cope with the situation as well as be someone that is able to get things done while becoming scared once she learns what the soldiers want from her. Naomie Harris is brilliant as Selena as a survivor who starts off as a cynical woman trying to survive for herself thinking there is no hope only to regain some compassion upon meeting Jim, Frank, and Hannah where she becomes a big sister of sorts for Hannah. Finally, there’s Cillian Murphy in a phenomenal performance as Jim as a bicycle courier who wakes up from a 28-day coma as he discovers what happened to the world where he copes with loss as well as try to hold on to some hope as it is a real breakthrough for Murphy.

28 Days Later is a spectacular film from Danny Boyle that features great performances from Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris, and Brendan Gleeson. It’s a zombie film that isn’t just exhilarating and scary but also a film manages to showcase how humanity copes with the aftermath of an apocalypse and survive while trying to do some good. In the end, 28 Days Later is a tremendous film from Danny Boyle.

Danny Boyle Films: Shallow Grave - Trainspotting - A Life Less Ordinary - The Beach - Millions - Sunshine - Slumdog Millionare - 127 Hours - Trance - Steve Jobs - T2 Trainspotting - (Yesterday (2019 film))

© thevoid99 2016

Ex Machina

Written and directed by Alex Garland, Ex Machina is the story of a computer coder who is asked to spend a week at the home of his reclusive boss where he meets and falls for the boss’ new android. The film is a look into the world of artificial intelligence where a young man not only is intrigued by this android but also becomes aware of his surroundings. Starring Domhnall Gleeson, Alicia Vikander, Sonoya Mizuno, and Oscar Isaac. Ex Machina is a haunting yet provocative film from Alex Garland.

After being selected to spend a week at the secluded home of a search engine company CEO, a young coder is asked to take part in a research to engage into a conversation with his boss’ new creation in an artificial-intelligent android. There, this young man not only asks this android named Ava (Alicia Vikander) many questions but also starts to fall for her as she expresses many human emotions as well as some dark secrets about what is really going inside this home where she is unable to really interact with humans nor go out of the house. It’s a film that plays into the world of man meeting machine but the machine has a soul just like any other human being but it’s in a world where it’s run by a creator who is paranoid and willing to see if he had creates something that will change the world.

Alex Garland’s screenplay is set entirely in this home in the middle of a mountainous forest by this CEO named Nathan (Oscar Isaac) who has spent years trying to create the perfect android as Ava becomes his latest and most accomplished creation to date. Yet, he is also very paranoid where he often drinks while watching everything that goes on it would eventually trouble his guest Caleb (Domhnall Gleeson) who was invited for the week. Just as Caleb would ask Ava various questions, they would also endure a series of power outages where Ava would unveil some truths to Caleb about Nathan. Much of it would make Caleb uneasy from the questions that Nathan asks him about her artificial intelligence as Caleb is needed to see if Ava could pass the test to be human. Still, the test makes Caleb even more uneasy when he wonders what Nathan will do to her once Caleb is sent home.

Garland’s direction is very mesmerizing not just for its location where much of it is shot in Norway with a few city scenes shot in London. It’s also in the fact that Garland is creating a film that doesn’t play into many of the traditions of sci-fi but rather into something that is more about humanity and a machine’s encounter with humanity. Much of Garland’s direction uses a lot of close-ups and medium shots that play into the sense of claustrophobia and tension that emerges inside Nathan’s home where only two men, an android, and Nathan’s silent maid Kyoko (Sonoya Mizuno). Garland does use a lot of wide shots and some unique visual tricks to play into some of the exteriors that includes Ava’s own idea of what it would be like to emerge on the outside. Especially as it adds to the sense of Ava’s longing to the outside world and Nathan’s determination to keep her in his home.

Garland also maintains that sense of terror as it relates to Nathan’s own paranoia as its second half doesn’t contain elements of horror and suspense but it’s told in a non-conventional fashion. Especially as Garland isn’t afraid to use some offbeat humor in which there’s a scene where Nathan holds a party with Kyoko as they dance to disco music much to Caleb’s own sense of confusion. Even in scenes where Nathan watches the conversations between Caleb and Ava are filled with a sense of dread and unease as there’s also scenes of sensuality as it relates to Caleb’s attraction towards Ava. It adds to Caleb’s questions into why Nathan build her as it plays more into a suspense-drama with sci-fi in its third act as it revels into Nathan’s desire for control and Caleb’s love for Ava. Overall, Garland creates a very intense yet mesmerizing film about a man falling for an artificial-intelligent android.

Cinematographer Rob Hardy does amazing work with the film‘s very colorful and entrancing cinematography with its usage of lights to set the mood for the scenes inside Nathan‘s home as . Editor Mark Day does excellent work with the editing as it does feature some stylish cuts from speedy-footage cuts as well as jump-cuts and montages to play into the drama and suspense. Production designer Mark Digby, with set decorator Michelle Day and supervising art director Denis Schnegg, does brilliant work with the look of Nathan‘s home and its rooms along with the props that were used to build the androids. Costume designer Sammy Sheldon does terrific work with the clothes that Nathan and Caleb wear along with the simple dress that Ava would wear to flirt with Caleb.

Hair/makeup designer Tristan Versulius does nice work with the look of the Ava character as well as the stylish wigs she would wear to make herself look more human. Visual effects supervisor John Lockwood does fantastic work with the look of some of Ava‘s exterior looks and body parts as well as some of the interiors of her body. Sound designer Glenn Freemantle does superb work with the sound to play into the sense of tension and suspense that goes in Nathan‘s home with some unique sound textures to play into the world of advance technology. The film’s music by Geoff Barrow and Ben Salisbury is wonderful for its electronic-based score that ranges from eerie into the suspense to somber pieces for the drama as the soundtrack also includes pieces by Franz Schubert, Johann Sebastian Bach, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, Savages, and Oliver Cheatham.

The casting by Francine Maisler is great as it features appearances from Elina Alminas and Symara A. Templeman as a couple of previous androids Nathan tried to build as well as Sonoya Mizuno in a terrific performance as Nathan’s very silent yet exotic maid Kyoko. Oscar Isaac is remarkable as Nathan as this internet search engine CEO who is trying to create the perfect artificial-intelligent android as he tries to maintain control in every way while being quite funny at times which adds layers to his very dark character. Domhnall Gleeson is amazing as Caleb as this computer programmer who is asked to test Ava as he falls for her while becoming uneasy about Nathan as Gleeson brings that naivete and curiosity to his role. Finally, there’s Alicia Vikander in an incredible performance as Ava as this artificially-intelligent android who is very engaging sexually and intellectually as she also displays elements of humanity in her conversations with Caleb where Vikander manages to find a sense of soul in a character that is essentially a machine.

Ex Machina is a phenomenal film from Alex Garland that features brilliant performances from Alicia Vikander, Domhnall Gleeson, and Oscar Isaac. Not only is it one of the more intelligent and compelling sci-fi films in recent memory but also manages to raise questions about the idea of artificial intelligence. Even if the machine is allowed to act human in every way where even a human being can fall for a machine. In the end, Ex Machina is a spectacular film from Alex Garland.

Related: Annihilation


© thevoid99 2015

Never Let Me Go

Based on Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel, Never Let Me Go tells the story of three children living in an English boarding school in a dystopian world as they’re prepared to become donors.  During their teenage and adult years, a love triangle is formed by the three while they discover the world outside of their boarding school life.  Directed by Mark Romanek with an adapted script by Alex Garland, the film is a mixture of science fiction and drama set from the 1950s to the 1980s.  Starring Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightley, Andrew Garfield, Domhnall Gleeson, Andrea Riseborough, Sally Hawkins, and Charlotte Rampling.  Never Let Me Go is a heartbreaking yet mesmerizing drama from Mark Romanek and company.

It’s 1978 as three 11-year old kids named Kathy (Isobel Miekle-Small), Ruth (Ella Purnell), and Tommy (Charlie Rowe) live in a boarding school called Hailsham where their life is idyllic.  Yet, they are really children whose fate is set as they’re to become donors for other people while some have the option of becoming a carer, to help care for the donors.  The school is run by Miss Emily (Charlotte Rampling) as the children are not aware of what is outside of the school boundaries as they’re afraid of what will happen after hearing many stories.  When a new teacher named Miss Lucy (Sally Hawkins) arrives at the school, she becomes the kind of person the kids enjoy.  Yet, she is haunted by what kind of school Hailsham is.

While Kathy and Tommy are very close, their relationship changes when Ruth takes Tommy for her own.  Seven years later, Kathy (Carey Mulligan), Ruth (Keira Knightley), and Tommy (Andrew Garfield) are moved to cottages as they’re now 18 and deciding what to do.  Living with a couple of other teens from other schools named Rodney (Domhnall Gleeson) and Chrissie (Andrea Riseborough).  Hearing rumors that they’re really clones and the idea that they have originals along another rumor about getting deferrals if they can prove to their superiors about true love so they can be reprieved.  Kathy, Tommy, and Ruth are wondering about as Tommy believes to be true though Kathy and Ruth aren’t sure.  Even as Ruth and Tommy are having trouble in their relationship as Kathy decides to become a carer.

It’s been 10 years since Kathy leaves the cottage as she has become a carer helping her fellow donors.  While she’s been successful, she hasn’t seen Ruth nor Tommy since she left the cottage.  During another day at the hospital in caring for a donor, she discovers that Ruth is in the same hospital donating.  The already-frail Ruth reveals where Tommy is as they go to visit him at another hospital as he looks well despite having donated three times.  When Ruth reveals something about the rumored deferrals, she suggests that Tommy and Kathy take a chance to meet the school’s madam (Nathalie Richard).  Tommy and Kathy decide to meet the madam with Tommy’s art work as he believes that the school gallery had more meeting as they get a surprise appearance from someone from their past.

The idea that there’s people created to become donors for others as they lead short lives seems like a troubling concept.  Yet, from the perspective of these donors knowing what they’re fate is.  It actually becomes more compelling since the film is all told from the perspective of Kathy as she sees her two closest friends deal with the same fate she’s facing as she is caring for them later on.  Even as she is in love with Tommy while is being part of a love triangle with Tommy and Ruth.

Alex Garland’s screenplay is superb not just for its structure by allowing the film to be told in three parts in Kathy’s journey.  Also for exploring the characters in their surroundings and the situation they’re put upon.  While Kathy is the center of the story of how she sees things and being the observer of everything that is happening.  Her perspective of how Tommy and Ruth act are interesting.  Tommy is an emotionally-fragile person who often feels left out and unsure of himself as he is later revealed to be a talented artist.  Ruth is a person who becomes jealous of Tommy’s friendship with Kathy as she becomes Tommy’s lover.  Yet, she is the most troubled because she wants to be loved while only to be destroyed by guilt as she tries to redeem herself.

Garland’s script also brings an idea of how outsiders think of all of this as the character of Miss Sally wonders why Tommy didn’t get a ball outside of the fence during a game.  Even as she learns more about the art gallery while there’s one amazing scene where Miss Sally gives this monologue that is heartbreaking about what these kids are facing.  Yet, it would allow the chance for someone like Kathy to try and lead a normal life as a carer despite the fact that she’s going to become a donor soon.  The dystopian feel of the story is balanced by the romance and longing for love that the story needs as Garland’s work is superb.

Mark Romanek’s direction features what is definitely his best work to date as a director.  From the way he frames big scenes of the school, beaches, and fields in the varied locations all over Britain.  To even a simple shot of a ball on the ground during a rainy day.  Romanek is always interested in what is going on as he lets the drama unfold while creating dark moods for some of the film’s more dramatic scenes.  Yet, there are a few times when the drama is hampered by the score during scenes of dialogue where the music isn’t necessary.  The silent moments is where Romanek really strengthens the drama including a scene where the young Kathy sees Tommy and Ruth and her reaction is just one of the most heartbreaking moments.

While the film is partially a sci-fi movie based on its concept.  Romanek approaches the film as if he’s making a period film where while it’s set in three different periods.  They all look like it’s a very different period than the ones they’re set in.  1978 looks more like 1950-1960s.  The 1985 segment looks a bit like 1970s while 1994 looks like a mixture of all of those things except for the hospital scenes and some exterior shots.  Romanek’s overall work is truly dazzling in its imagery and staging as he is truly becoming a director to watch out for.

Cinematographer Adam Kimmel does an amazing job with the film’s gorgeous cinematography.  Kimmel’s work is truly amazing from the rainy days where the green matches with the gray rainy skies in the Hailsham scenes along with some lush interior shots matched with the dark shadows inside the school.  Even as the film moves out of the school, the scenes in the forests, beaches, and other natural environments are truly stunning.  Even in the hospital scenes as the look inside the dark hallways matched with other lights play to the dread of what is going to happen to some of the characters brings a lot to its look.  Overall, Kimmel’s work is definitely one of 2010’s best work.

Editor Barney Pillons does some excellent work on the editing from the rhythmic cuts to intensify some of the film’s dramatic moments.  Even in the transitions where Pillons help play to what Kathy is dealing with and the reaction afterwards.  Pillons also helps in creating some nice fade-ins to help present each section of the film for its structure.  Production designer Mark Digby, along with set decorator Michelle Day and art directors Paul Cripps and Denis Schnegg, does a spectacular job with the different looks for each of the film‘s main locations.  From the 1950s-like look of the Hailsham school to the rural cottages that the kids live in as teenagers.  Even the look of the city where Kathy lives in has a more modern look along with some set pieces that help play to the film’s different periods.  Another noted piece of the art direction is Tommy’s drawings by Charlie Cobb which is some amazing drawings to reflect Tommy’s personality.

Costume designers Rachael Fleming and Steve Noble do a wonderful job with the different clothes that the characters wear from the school uniforms to the casual clothes that they wear as teens and adults.  Notably the suits that Tommy wears and the colorful dresses that Kathy wears late in the film.  Sound designer Glenn Freemantle does fantastic work with the sound from the hollowed sounds of the school to the quieter though chaotic world of the cottages where sex is often happening.  Freemantle also plays to the quieter scenes with natural sounds of waves in the beach scenes along with the shots in the forest during a conversation between Kathy and Tommy.

The film’s score by Rachel Portman is very good for some of the dramatic touches including some flourishing pieces for the less dramatic moments.  Some of the film’s more heavier scenes does have broader arrangements though at times, it goes a bit overboard.  Notably a scene between Ruth and Kathy where the music is playing as the two are talking which was really unnecessary.  Additional music from supervisors Randall Poster and George Drakoulias features a mixture of classical pieces and low-key rock stuff yet the most notable track is the song Never Let Me Go sung by Jane Monheit which is the real highlight of the film’s soundtrack as it plays to what Kathy is reacting about Tommy and Ruth’s relationship.

The casting by Kate Dowd is superb with a cast that is truly magnificent.  Notable small roles include Domhnall Gleeson and Andrea Riseborough as two fellow teens living in the cottages who believe about a rumor at Hailsham as well as Nathalie Richard as an art teacher called Madam.  Another small performance that has a great monologue is Sally Hawkins as Miss Lucy.  Hawkins’ performance is mesmerizing about how she observes things at Hailsham while her performance in which she tells the kids about their fate is definitely heartbreaking.  Charlotte Rampling is phenomenal as Miss Emily, the school’s headmistress who isn’t a typical authority figure but one who believes about what the school represents.  Rampling as this commanding presence when she gives speeches that is truly a marvel to watch as she remains one of the best actresses working today.

In the younger roles of Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy.  Isobel Miekle-Small, Ella Purnell, and Charlie Rowe are outstanding as the young characters they portray.  Miekle-Small sells the innocence of Kathy while being the one character who comforts the young Tommy during his anguish.  Even in a scene where her reaction to Tommy and Ruth’s romance is truly stunning in how little she portrays that reaction.  Purnell is very good in providing the outgoing personality of Ruth by talking a lot and being all smug about the happenings at the school.  Rowe is amazing for bringing the anguish and insecurity of Tommy along with his quiet persona when he’s just trying to draw.

Keira Knightley is excellent as Ruth, the most adventurous of the trio who envies Tommy and Kathy’s friendship along with the possibilities about the world outside of where she’s destined to do.  For Knightley, it’s her darkest role as she plays a character that is very mean and at times, angry as it’s proof that there’s more to Knightley than her looks and the profile she has in Hollywood.  Andrew Garfield is fantastic as Tommy, the anguished young man who is caught in the middle of a love triangle between he, Ruth, and Kathy.  Garfield’s performance is spellbinding for someone who is quite innocent while dealing with the rumors he  hears about Halisham as well the fact that he’s torn between Kathy and Ruth.

Finally, there’s Carey Mulligan in a spectacular performance as Kathy.  A towering follow-up to her Oscar-nominated breakthrough role in Lone Scherfig’s An Education.  Mulligan truly captures the sense of longing about wanting Tommy while dealing with her own discoveries about sex and individuality.  Her best work is in the third act as she becomes a carer and sees what Ruth and Tommy each have to deal with.  It’s a radiant for the young actress as well as proof that she’s one of Britain’s rising talents.

The Region 1 DVD from Fox Searchlight presents the film in the widescreen aspect ratio of 2:35:1 with 5.1 English Dolby Digital plus Spanish and French Surround Sound and subtitles in Spanish and English for the hearing impaired.  The special features of the DVD includes a 30-minute making-of featurette called The Secrets of Never Let Me Go.

The making-of featurette features interviews with director Mark Romanek, screenwriter Alex Garland, novelist Kazuo Ishiguro, and actors Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield, Keira Knightley, Isobel Miekle-Small, Ella Purnell, and Charlie Rowe.  They discuss Ishiguro’s novel as well as the development of the film.  Particularly in wanting to get a fresh perspective of a film that is essentially British as Mark Romanek was chosen for his visual presentation.  Romanek wanted to create something different that is seen in period films which impressed Ishiguro who was also impressed by the young actors chosen to play the roles.

Mulligan, Garfield, and Knightley got to talk about their approach to their performances while helping the younger actors, who play their respective younger versions, to get their approach to the characters.  Romanek also talks about the visual approach of the film as well as the dramatic approach to the film.  Even as he reveals that for a lot of the objects in the film, he wanted them to feel dated and used just to give an idea of what the characters are living with.  The overall featurette is superb as it reveals what was done for the film.

Three galleries appear in the special features content of the DVD.  First is Mark Romanek’s on-set photography which is a three-minute featurette of black-and-white photo stills to the score of Rachel Portman.  The second gallery is Tommy’s artwork that is a two-and-a-half minute piece featuring all of the drawings played to another piece of Portman’s score.  The third and final gallery is a collection of programs and graphic from Halisham school and the National Donor Programme group.  The two-minute piece with another piece of Portman’s score reveals leaflets, flyers, and posters representing the school and donors program.  Also in the DVD is the film’s theatrical trailer plus trailers for Conviction, 127 Hours, Cyrus, and a 75th Anniversary special for 20th Century Fox.  It’s an overall good DVD though its lack of huge special features is a bit disappointing.

Never Let Me Go is a remarkable yet heart wrenching drama from Mark Romanek.  Featuring wonderful performances from Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield, Keira Knightley, Sally Hawkins, and Charlotte Rampling along with the young children that play the younger characters.  It’s a film that deserves its reputation as a weepie that truly earns its heartbreak over the situation the characters live in.  For Mark Romanek, this is his best film to date as he ups his game and more as a feature-film director.  In the end, Never Let Me Go is an amazing yet enchanting film from Mark Romanek and company.

Favorite Films #6: Never Let Me Go

© thevoid99 2011

Sunshine

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 1/27/08.

Following the critical success of 2004's family-drama Millions, British director Danny Boyle took another direction with the film as he collaborated with Frank Cottrell Bryce on the project. Though Millions was a more accessible, family-friendly film compared to his other films like the zombie-film 28 Days Later and his 1996 heroin-drama Trainspotting. Boyle proved to himself to take on different projects with great success following the disastrous experience with his 2000 film The Beach. Then in 2007, after more than a year in the works, Boyle explored a different genre in science fiction entitled Sunshine.

Directed by Danny Boyle and written by Alex Garland, Sunshine tells the story of a futuristic period where the sun is dying. After a crew in space failed to reignite the sun, a new crew takes over as they learn what happen to the previous crew while dealing with their own emotions in a mission they must not fail. Taking cues from Stanley Kubrick's 1968 classic film 2001: A Space Odyssey, Boyle explores the world of alienation and mysticism of the universe as well as mankind's failing. With an ensemble that includes Boyle regular Cillian Murphy along with Rose Byrne, Chris Evans, Michelle Yeoh, Benedict Wong, Hiroyuki Sanada, Cliff Curtis, and Troy Garity. Sunshine is a haunting, visually-hypnotic film from Danny Boyle and company.

It's 2057 as the sun is dying forcing Earth to nearly die as well. Seven years ago, a spaceship called Icarus attempted to reignite the sun with a nuclear missile attached to the ship. Then for some reason, Icarus and its crew never made it as now, a new crew on Icarus II is hoping to complete the mission and save Earth. Leading the team is Kaneda (Hiroyuki Sanada) with communications officer Harvey (Troy Garity) in second-in-command. Also in the team are a group of scientists, physicists, and an astronaut including pilot Cassie (Rose Byrne), engineer Mace (Chris Evans), navigator Trey (Benedict Wong), psychologist Searle (Cliff Curtis), botanist Corazon (Michelle Yeoh) and physicist/astronaut Robert Capa (Cillian Murphy). Hoping to succeed despite personal tension, the crew of Icarus II are aware that if they fail, Earth will die.

Nearing the planet Mercury, Harvey suddenly hears a signal that turned out to be Icarus as the crew wondered if they should rendevous with the old ship. Capa is forced to make the decision as he ponders what impact it would have since Icarus has another nuclear missile attached. If they can get that second missile, there would be a second shot in reigniting the son in case the one they have doesn't go well. Capa makes his decision as they make way towards Mercury where all of a sudden, a mental error made by Trey on not directing the shields against the sun since he was too busy making calculations on the navigation and such. Kaneda and Capa decide to go outside to inspect the damage and such as Cassie tries to change the navigation. Just as things seem to go well in the repairs, something goes wrong instead as towers and areas get destroyed. With Trey now in a mind full of guilt, Searle sedates him as a suicide risk.

With the ship's plant and garden supply destroyed by the fire and oxygen supply now at a low risk, Corazon realizes that there's four left but four people to survive. Mace and Cassie wonder who should survive as Harvey makes the decision to go to Icarus to see if there's still any oxygen supply left. With Trey, Mace, Harvey, and Capa go onboard Icarus, the rest stays at Icarus II where they discovered what happened to the first Icarus crew but also its captain Pinbacker (Mark Strong) who went insane all of a sudden. Just as they continued to explore, the docking between the two Icarus ships suddenly exploded forcing the men to not return. Cassie directs Icarus II to the nearest docking meter with Icarus as Searle chooses to stay behind in order to get the rest of the team out manually. Though the plan worked for the most part, there are now a few survivors left as Capa's previous decision puts him at odds with Mace. Yet, the mystery of what happened to the docking link remains questioned.

When Capa decides to check on the nuclear payload, he makes a discovery that would impact the ship but his crew as he learned about a force that is trying to stop them as everyone tries to fight to survive in completing their mission.

A film set in space is often filled with themes of alienation and mankind itself. Director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Alex Garland understands these themes as it is explored in the film's first half. Yet, the theme of mankind is explored much further in the second half as the film is about a team trying to reignite the dying sun to save Earth. What Garland does is create a situation in how to stop a team from their mission as what he reveals that man itself is flawed to the point that they would overlook a little thing that would cause problems. The film in some ways is about the fallacy of mankind and how a simple mistake can destroy things where the character of Trey is forced to go on suicide watch.

The pressure on the impact of a mistake can be extremely overwhelming as these eight people aren't just trying to complete their mission but the pressure is overwhelming to them on all parts as they're aware that if they fail. The whole planet of Earth and civilization as they know it will be gone and it's their fault if that happens. It's a continuing frame of mind that crew of Icarus II are going through for the entire film. Yet, by the time the film reaches the third act, it becomes a suspense film of sorts as well as a thriller. In some ways, it becomes a different film and that abrupt shift in tone might irk the audience in some ways as the first two acts is more character-driven.

Director Danny Boyle's vision is truly superb as he creates a unique film that has those great elements of past science-fiction films in the tradition of Stanley Kubrick's 2001 but also Andrei Tarkovsky's film adaptation of Solaris. Creating a feeling of claustrophobia, isolation, and terror, the film has a haunting quality as a large portion of the film is shot from the inside. Boyle's decision on casting is also unique as he brought in an eclectic group of actors for the film with different backgrounds, personalities, and nationalities to convey a sense of international unity despite their own differences. Yet, Boyle's eerie, observant, and hypnotic direction creates an atmosphere that is intense in its emotions. Even as the film goes into suspense mode, the intensity of Boyle's vision doesn't stray from the film's main plot as the third act is also an exploration of sorts of man's failure and its cynicism. It is in some respects a hopeful film as Danny Boyle creates a solid, hypnotic film that gives the director new ground to work on.

Cinematographer Alwin Kuchler does an amazing job in using the sepia-light colors to convey the impact of the dying sun while a lot of the photography and camera work is hand-held in some parts along with tracking shots with the cameras tilted. The look of the camera with its dark, blue-green look works to convey an intimacy and claustrophobia of the film. Visual effects supervisor Tom Wood also helps in the look, particularly the look of the sun as well as the outer-space outside shots that are extremely stunning to look at including the model of Icarus II. Editor Chris Gill does an excellent job in maintaining the intense tone of the film with the use of jump-cuts and transitions to convey the eerie tone of the film as the editing is truly superb.

Production designer Mark Tildesley with set decorator Michelle Day and a team of art directors did a fascinating job in creating the world of Icarus II with its botanic gardens, dream-like fantasy worlds, its claustrophobic space hallways, and the observation room as the film has a wonderful, sci-fi feel. Costume designer Suttirat Anne Larlarb does nice work on the film's clothing uniforms while the astronaut suits with its gold look and helmet are wonderful to convey the eerie tone of the film as well as the claustrophobia. Sound designer/editor Glenn Freemantle does an amazing job in capturing the film's eerie tone with the breaking of ships and such along with bleeps, and noises to convey the film's haunting quality. The film score by John Murphy and the electronic group Underworld is truly spellbinding with its operatic arrangements, intense electronic accompaniments, and dream-like, ambient tones to convey the layers of emotions the characters are going through.

The film's casting is superb with small performances from Mark Strong as the insane Pinbacker and as the voice of Icarus II, Chipo Chung. The main ensemble of its eight principle actors are all superb with Hiroyuki Sanada in a fantastic role as Captain Kaneda, a man whose leadership and wisdom is needed as he tries to do what is right for everyone while maintaining control. Benedict Wong is excellent as the navigator Trey who starts off as a fun, easy-going man but when his intelligence causes him to overlook something simple, he becomes a wreck as Wong's performance is memorable. Troy Garity is also good as Harvey, the communications officer who tries to take over command only to realize what it takes to be a real leader.

Cliff Curtis is amazing in a standout performance as Dr. Searle, the film's lone optimist and moral conscience of sorts as he is the one who tries to give options while being the one man to keep the peace between everyone. Michelle Yeoh is also superb as the botanist Corazon whose hopes for a better world becomes shattered when her beloved garden is destroyed as she tries to deal with the harsh realities of the world. Chris Evans is a revelation as a hot-headed, frustrated engineer who is dealing with everything that is going on while trying to decide what is morally right. Evans, known to audiences as the Human Torch in the Fantastic 4 films brings a lot of intelligence and energy to his performance as he proves to be a solid actor when working with the right director.

Rose Byrne is wonderfully understated and plaintive as the pilot Cassie, who is some ways, the film's heart. Byrne's performance is subtle and engaging yet is also a conscience in a powerful scene about morality as she truly mesmerizes in every scene she's in. Cillian Murphy is also brilliant as Robert Capa, a man whose decision about Icarus makes him someone who is filled with conflict as he isn't sure about whether he made the right decision. Murphy's dream-like look and wavering sense of hope really carries the film as his performance is truly memorable.

Sunshine is a wonderfully haunting, provocative film from Danny Boyle and company. Fans of intelligent sci-fi films will be amazed in the film's visual presentation as well as Boyle's claustrophobic direction. With a great ensemble cast, an eerie score, and amazing visuals, this is a film that will wow audiences in its visual splendor while comment on the flaws of mankind. While the film isn't as solid as Trainspotting, Danny Boyle still proves to be one of Britain's finest directors. In the end, Sunshine is a fascinating film that deserves to be seen for sci-fi aficionados.

Danny Boyle Films: Shallow Grave - Trainspotting - A Life Less Ordinary - The Beach - 28 Days Later - Millions - Slumdog Millionaire - 127 Hours - Trance - Steve Jobs (2015 film) - T2 Trainspotting - (Yesterday (2019 film)

© thevoid99 2010