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
Written and directed by Damien Chazelle, La La Land is the story of an aspiring actress who moves to Los Angeles where she meets a jazz pianist as they fall in love while trying to find success together in Hollywood. The film is a mixture of fantasy and reality as it play into the hopes and dreams of two people trying to make it in the city of dreams. Starring Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, John Legend, Rosemarie DeWitt, and J.K. Simmons. La La Land is a ravishing and evocative film from Damien Chazelle.
Set in the city of dreams that is Los Angeles/Hollywood, the film is an exploration of two people trying to reach their dreams as they struggle to make it as they lean on each other unsure if they both can succeed. While it’s a story that is often common with many old-school ideas of Hollywood of people going there and wanting to be part of that world. It is told in a very stylistic fashion as it play into this conflict of fantasy and reality which would blend in some respects for its two central protagonists in the jazz pianist Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) and the aspiring actress Mia (Emma Stone) as they both go through many trials and tribulations in their journey to find fame and happiness. Damien Chazelle’s screenplay is mainly told in the span of an entire year structured by season where it begins with winter as the two are first seen in a traffic jam with Sebastian having road rage.
The two would meet again later on as it would play into an element of fantasy but then reality would return as they wouldn’t see each other again until Mia attends a party where Sebastian is playing in an 80s cover band. The two would forge a friendship that eventually becomes a romantic relationship bonded by their wishes to succeed where Mia wants to become an actress and succeed while Sebastian is hoping to open a jazz club where more authentic jazz music is played. Yet, they also have to contend with some form of reality whether Mia has to go numerous audition and cope with failure and rejection while Sebastian is forced to face some truth about the world of jazz where his ideas of the music is becoming extinct. Once the story reaches towards summer and fall, that specter of reality would come more and more into play but there is still some glimmer of what both Sebastian and Mia want for themselves and each other.
Chazelle’s direction isn’t just stylish but also play against many of the conventional aspects of modern-day cinema in favor of something that is more traditionalist and harkening back to the cinema of the past. The film’s opening sequence and musical number is a great example of what Chazelle is going for. It is set in a traffic jam in Los Angeles which lead to people singing as the usage of wide and medium shots capture the scope of what is happening as it’s all done in one entire take with a tracking shot without the need to cut. Many of the musical numbers would be presented in that similar approach as it doesn’t just play against some of the elements of what the genre had become but also creating something that is more dream-like and with a sense of fantasy. Aiding Chazelle in the dancing and how the choreography would play into the story is choreographer Mandy Moore who would provide moments of dance that has a sense of movement that help establish what is going on where it can be dazzling and intricate or just simple and somber.
The non-musical moments are still just as vital not only in playing to the story but also have the sense of intimacy as it relate to the conflicts that Sebastian and Mia are both going through. Especially in the film’s second half where they don’t just encounter failure but also what people will do to be successful. One noted montage sequence of Mia trying to do something to kick-start her own career while Sebastian would do something as a way to survive would show two people who love and care for each other going into diverging paths. The film’s third act set in the fall would be a moment where it is about facing not just reality head-on but also see if there is some kind of hope that can emerge. Notably as Chazelle would create something that mixes fantasy and reality into a scene that is just powerful which would be followed a more dazzling sequence towards the end of the film as it play into hopes and dreams of those who want something so bad to succeed on their own terms. Overall, Chazelle creates a majestic yet enthralling film about two people trying to make it in the city of dreams.
Cinematographer Linus Sandgren does amazing work with the film‘s cinematography from the way he captures every ounce of color in some of the dance sequences in day and night as well as the way some of the jazz clubs and restaurants are lit along with the gorgeous scene inside and outside of the Griffith Observatory. Editor Tom Cross does brilliant work with the editing as it doesn‘t play by modern-day editing rules as it favors something that is straightforward with some stylish montages and rhythmic cutting that play into some of the music. Production designer David Wasco, with set decorator Sandy Reynolds-Wasco and art director Austin Gorg, does excellent work with the design of the apartment homes of Sebastian and Mia as well as some of places they go to as well as the jazz club that Sebastian likes to hang out and the movie theater they would visit one night.
Costume designer Mary Zophres does incredible work with the costumes from the design and gorgeous colors of the dresses that Mia and the women wear as well as the look of the clothes for some of the dancers in the film. Visual effects supervisors Chris LeDoux, Tim LeDoux, and John L. Weckworth do fantastic work with the visual effects such as the floating dance sequence inside the Griffith Observatory and other sequences that help play into this world of fantasy. Sound designer/editor Ai-Ling Lee and sound editor Mildred Iatrou do superb work with the sound in the way some of the live music is presented as well as some of the sparse elements in the sound to play into the non-musical moments.
The film’s music by Justin Hurwitz is phenomenal as its score is a mixture of jazz and orchestral music to play into that air of excitement but also the dramatic elements of the film. The songs also help as most of them are written by Hurwitz and the duo of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul that help play into the situations and moods the characters are in while another original song written by Hurwitz, Marius de Vries, John Stephens, and Angelique Cinelu is a reflection of the kind of music that Sebastian doesn’t want to be a part of as the entire music score and soundtrack is a highlight of the film.
The casting by Deborah Aquila and Tricia Wood is terrific as it feature some notable small roles and appearances from Josh Pence as a brother of Mia’s boyfriend early in the film, the trio of Callie Hernandez, Sonoya Mizuno, and Jessica Rothe as Mia’s roommates, Meagan Fay as Mia’s mother, Tom Everett Scott as a man named David who appears late in the film, Finn Wittrock as Mia’s boyfriend early in the film in Greg, and J.K. Simmons in a superb cameo appearance as a restaurant owner named Bill who wants Sebastian to play the music as it is. Rosemary DeWitt is excellent as Sebastian’s older sister Laura who tries to ensure her brother about the realities of the world but also hope that he can succeed. John Legend is brilliant as Sebastian’s old high school classmate Keith as a musician who leads a very popular and successful jazz-pop where he wants Sebastian to be a part of as a source of income.
Finally, there’s the duo of Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone is spectacular performances in their respective roles as Sebastian Wilder and Mia Dolan. Gosling brings that air of frustration and determination into someone who is an ardent traditionalist towards jazz as he tries to do whatever he can to survive no matter how humiliating it can be. Stone provides that humility to her own role as a young woman that is just trying to succeed through audition after audition while displaying that air of charm that is so intoxicating. Gosling and Stone together have this chemistry that is just riveting to watch from how they sing and dance with each other to the moments where they cope with their own failures and desire to succeed.
La La Land is an outstanding film from Damien Chazelle that features sensational performances from Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. Featuring beautiful visuals, an evocative music soundtrack, top-notch technical work, and a story that is definitely appealing in its conflict of reality and fantasy. It’s a film that doesn’t just create something that is entertaining enough for the audiences but offers a whole lot more about the dreams and hope of two people in the city of dreams. In the end, La La Land is a magnificent film from Damien Chazelle.
Damien Chazelle Films: Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench - Whiplash - First Man - Babylon (2022 film) - (The Auteurs #76: Damien Chazelle)
© thevoid99 2017
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
