'Slingshot' A Review

Slingshot is a scifi movie about a space mission to Saturn's moon Titan. John(Casey Affleck) awakens from a hibernation cycle experiencing adverse effects, as does his crewmates Nash(Tomer Capone) and Captain Frank(Laurence Fishburne) to varying degrees. As their mental states deteriorate so does the prospect of the mission. 

Affleck is adrift in the lead role, his delivery is stilted, he's a negative space of charm, with his only really acting choice being a distant somnambulist lethargy. It doesn't work and its intensely boring. There are numerous flashbacks with Emily Beecham as his ex Zoe that he seems to be uncomfortable and confused in, as their relationship is intended to be an emotional touchstone its failure renders a lot of the stakes moot. Capone fairs somewhat better but is unable to really create a believable person, he just firehoses fear and paranoia. Fishburne is the only one who seems like an actual human that exists. His presence is a relief and he calmly but firmly, almost solely from his own talent, asserts a reality for the story to be in. 

The production design is limited but competent, the real issue is the script. The dialogue, across the board, is bad, the characterizations non-existent, but the biggest problem is in the derivative and over-stuffed plot. It smashes together a lot of scifi doomed mission tropes seemingly with the perspective more-is-more but nothing is particularly surprising or interesting and the ending, when it comes, lands like the leadest of balloons. Its also kind of odd casting Fishburne given his presence somewhat recalls his turn in the far superior Event Horizon.

There's a decent idea in here but the result is an unquestionable failure.

Currently in theaters.

Don't See It.