Writer and Director Bong Joon-ho
Starring Robert Pattinson, Naomi Ackie, Steven Yen, Toni Colette, Mark Ruffalo, Holiday Grainger, Anamaria Vartolomei
It’s no question that Bong Joon-ho is one of the best directors of our time. His work has progressed steadily since 2000. His movies have now reached a point where they are going to be events from here on.
This event is highlighted by the incredible work of Robert Pattinson. He plays multiples of Mickey, an easy-going man, who stumbles into a journey offworld with his friend Timo (Yeun). They are both on the run from a loan shark. Timo often makes the best of bad decisions. This often leaves Mickey in the lurch.
Early in the journey to the snow planet Nilfheim, Mickey develops a relationship with Nasha (Ackie). They stick together through the various iterations of Mickey. They have a secret code for their love life. This will come in handy later.
Mickey 17 is left for dead while on a mission to procure a creeper, one of the native inhabitants. The mother creeper, along with many others, rescues Mickey 17. He heads back to his quarters on the ship and lays down on his bed. Next to him is Mickey 18.
Where the movie goes from here is a mixture of comic absurdity and predictable but fun events. Ruffalo plays cult/political leader Marshall. He is doing a moronic estimate of Donald Trump. Colette plays a role that seems straight out of Handmaid’s Tale. It’s obvious they made the film back when they thought Trump would lose his second election. The two performances detract from the film and remind the viewer of their politics.
Aside from that, the film is actually quite fun to watch. Little touches are a delight of human observation. For example, forgetting to place a table out while a copy is being made. If the filmmakers had toned down the politics and stuck to the humanity, this has the makings a classic.
As stated earlier, Pattinson is a delight. His vocal intone is different, but matches each version of Mickey that we see. Creating characters of such slight but clear differences is not an easy task. He is definitely one of the best actors of his age.
Ackie is delightful as a grounded love interest. Yeun has never been better as a friend who is more an opportunist.
How much one enjoys this film will depend on their political views. It also depends on whether they can accept comic level Disney villains. For this viewer it is a distraction.
(***1/2 out of *****)
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