Another Earth (2011)

I've gone to see sci-fi films to escape into space and cool CGI. But this is not that movie. I think about the science fiction I've loved the most- stories that take me somewhere I never expected to be. And those are the stories where the characters are challenged, rattled to the core, by the deepest questions of our lives. The big discovery of Another Earth isn't just a copy of our planet. It's about how that stunning fact rearranges our reality. Unless you want a bang-bang shoot em up space opera, stay away. To appreciate this one-of-a-kind movie, leave all your preconceived ideas the door.

The indie genre is always hit and miss for me. I will either adore a film who absolutely hate it, so when I watched this it was the first time I felt indifferent. Rhoda, having just heard that another planet that can sustain life is viewable, causes a car accident with more than one fatality. Years later, she finds the remaining survivor and attempts to apologise, but her nerves get the better of her and soon starts getting close to them. It is a simple drama about redemption and earning another chance (should've been titled "Another Chance"). The film is good, but completely misses the mark given the idea that a complete replica of Earth appears. A copy of yourself on a different planet. It provokes you to ask the question "if you could tell yourself something, what would it be?"...and yet doesn't fully explore that ever apparent concept. It's a massive shame, because with the indie genre there are no limitations when it comes to storytelling. You aren't constantly having your hand being held so that studios can ensure they gain a profit. You make want you want, and I just feel that this wasn't the intended final product. The sluggish pacing, considering it's only 88 minutes long, hindered the narrative. The whole film is focussed on Rhoda and her internal struggle for forgiveness, but in the end it just doesn't amount to anything. It's far too melodramatic and occasionally comes across as pretentious. The over stylised amateurish direction felt like a TV episode, especially with the constant heavy handed zooming in and out. The script is surprisingly resonant and there are several scenes that were beautifully crafted, particularly where it's just Brit Marling walking and "Earth 2" is in the background. Brit Marling held this film completely, she was utterly captivating and emotionally investing. The ending...well, I don't know. I want to say it doesn't make sense, but I can't detail it without incorporating spoilers. Weird film, maybe just not what I expected?

Oh dear dear me! What a lamentable mess this "movie" is!I laughed when I saw one reviewer describe this thing as "A quietly powerful work of art". Ha Ha Ha. Another reviewer referred to the music as "amazing" and "very unique". Tsk Tsk Tsk. This cinematic effort is on a par with the worst dull, badly-shot old home movies. The scripting is utterly ridiculous, with the hesitant, laboured presentation coming across more like an English class for frightened foreigners than actual takes. The acting is shockingly embarrassing, but with a total budget of US$100,000, I suppose you just grab the next person who walks along the street and hope for the best, or hunt around for individuals who think this might be their big break into show-biz. The storyline is comic relief. I'm beginning to feel ill. This dross deserves the lowest rating possible. So how can one explain the 7 (SEVEN) rating it enjoys on this site? Well, I imagine everyone associated with the "production", their friends, families and pets all submitted glowing reviews. Ha Ha Ha

Spoiler alert.Nothing happens. The new earth has no baring on the entirety of the movie. Any other hokey plot device could have been used instead of trumping up a grand sci-fi spinner. The movie is not a science-fiction, future earth, or any of the things that it pretends to be.