George Clooney’s latest acting/directorial effort, The Midnight Sky, has scenes that will likely stay with you for quite some time. Scenes linked to the visual presentation and specific scenes.
Set in a post-apocalyptic world where the Earth has suffered a mysterious global catastrophe, Clooney’s character is Augustine, a lonely scientist on a race to stop an astronaut and her team from returning to Earth.
Before watching the movie, I encountered a review headline for The Midnight Sky that used the word ‘boring.’ Now, as any serious Clooney, Kyle Chandler, Felicity Jones and David Oyelowo fan would do, I had to find out for myself if I agreed.
After viewing, even though the film’s tense and anxiety-inducing moments initially kept me engaged, there were a few instances when I reached for my phone, partly due to the story’s editing and the slower pace of events. However, I was also trying to distract myself from emotional stress caused by the bleak realities of Augustine and the astronauts’ predicaments.
There’s even a specific scene where you know a tragedy is happening any moment now. And you’re not sure you want to hang around to see it unfold, partly because you’re mad that you were able to guess what was coming next. But you’re also displeased because you’re not a big fan of the continued depressing mood of the story, and you want some normalcy again.
Curiosity about the ending, the acting, plus visual moments that impressed, are what kept me watching The Midnight Sky. Generally, everyone performs well. Two specific highlights are the close-up of David Oyelowo’s character’s profile as he digests the meaning of a very unsettling bit of news. And the second is every time the camera was on young Caoilinn Springall, who plays Iris.
The most visually impressive moments include the colour-rich scene at the beginning that features Jupiter. Another at a later stage involves the removal of a helmet.
Give The Midnight Sky a chance if you’re curious. The premise is certainly intriguing. It’s just unfortunate that I’m convinced there’s a more engaging story, with better character development and maybe even a less moody/depressing creative execution, I could have enjoyed far more.
Happy Film Loving,
G
