Pattinson is compelling and nuanced in the multiple role, bringing a delicate balance of humor and pathos to the various versions of Mickey and differentiating them with minor but impactful differences. Naomi Ackie as Nasha brings a chaos and energy to the cast which is much needed, a much better showcase for her than her more contained/reactionary performance in Blink Twice. The rest of the cast are having a ball and fill out the world in an odd but wonderful way- Mark Ruffalo as Kenneth the pompous defacto leader, Toni Collette as Ylfa his wife both play cartoonish rich villains deliciously, Steven Yeun in a too small role is great, and it's wonderful to see Taskmaster alum Tim Key as Pigeon Man. All in all a stellar cast.
Visually the film is rich and evocative, the alien creature design inspired, the ship and it's various scifi machinery really great. The future world in which the film is set is fully formed and feels lived in. The score subtle and effective, the costuming equally understated but pitch-perfect. There's no question writer/director Bong Joon-ho is at the top of his game in regards to his production prowess. Where the film somewhat stumbles is in in the script/edit. The novel on which the movie is based is kind of scruffy and disjointed, rich with ideas but not particularly cogent narratively, and this quality was carried over to the screenplay. At a 137 minute run time the pacing at times lags, unnecessary diversions are taken(which are intriguing) at the cost of the overall effect. It's not a huge detractor but with a $118 million budget and a marketing campaign clearly setting this up as a blockbuster the final product(which is more akin to a thought-provoking indie) doesn't match that intent.
An engrossing and thrilling piece of filmmaking which will most likely stumble at the box office before becoming a 'cult' hit.
Currently in theaters.
See It.
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