What is this flick but a mish mash of some of the iconic sci-fi flicks of the past. I see Arnie's Sixth Day (cloning), Groundhog Day (waking up to same event) and even Total Recall (science under the corporate's feet).
Pattison's character starts out as the 17th version of Mickey, clone, printed actually, basically a guinea pig for experimentation by Mark Ruffalo character who is not reticent about mimicking Donald Trump – you know the filmakers are on the left side here.
It could have been stereotypical, formulaic and well, who cares. I did. I liked it. Especially Pattinson's portrayal of the clueless character who has to team up with his later version (Kinda like what Arnie did in Sixth Day) and go up against authority.
There are moments that felt like pure innovation, nothing like you have seen before, and well, if you have seen one too many films, you have seen them all. But it still felt fresh. The story is not too complicated especially when you have a corporate buffoon (Ruffalo is edged on by his onscreen wife, played by the wonderful Toni Collette – the Trump comparison eh? Whatever).
Also, I liked Naomie Ackie, gutsy performance. You gonna be big one day, kid. I said the same of Zoe Saldana and she got herself an Oscar.
The only issue I have is that the filmaker uses plenty of flashback shtick – something I abhorred considering it is the staple of the Tamil film industry past few decades, but hey, the director, Bong Joon Ho is Asian after all (Korean).
Some may fall out of the plot carousel – it is sci-fi, after all – but let me assure you, Pattinson's performance will keep you gripped. There are messages here and there, like, hey, don't fuck with nature, but it will fly pass you. I hear the opening has been weak in the US, and I can understand why. It is mostly bereft of the action sequences one would associate with sci-fi (thank you, Schwarzenegger), and Ruffalo's baddie is not exactly the bigger than life type despite is Trump impersonation and not exactly effective counterpoint to the protagonist's struggle or journey.
But it was alright with me. I liked it. Which means, it is not going to do well in the cinemas. Perhaps the OTT crowed might embrace it.
