Is George Clooney Back?
The Midnight Sky 2020:
Based off the novel "Good Morning, Midnight" written by Lily Brooks-Dalton comes a survival/sci-fi/drama directed by George Clooney.
Set in 2049, this story follows a lone scientist (George Clooney) and a young companion, a little girl, left in an Arctic weather station after an unknown disaster makes the Earth's surface uninhabitable. As a space station begins to return to Earth, the scientist must battle against the Arctic elements; toxic radiation in the air and his own personal struggles, in order to warn the astronauts returning home. All while keeping the little girl safe.
Now a little disclaimer before I start, if you're expecting non stop action and heart pounding tension, then you're going to be disappointed. This isn't one of those films, instead, this film shows us the very grim, depressing, almost hopeless reality of what life would really be like if you're the only person left on Earth.
Exploration of relationships and companionship are at the heart of this film and we see this first hand between the scientist and his companion. After a bit of a rocking start, you get to see a bond form between the two and gradually grow stronger as they face more and more challenges together. It's clear to see that the scientist relies on the girl just as much as she relies on him.
Perspectives switch back and forth between Earth and the space station and if I'm being honest, the chemistry between the astronauts... Well, I don't think there was any. If you're stuck in a station with 5 people for over 2 years, then it is expected that you would become a family, you would have a bond that no one else would ever have. But seeing them interact with each other on screen, I didn't believe it. I didn't believe that these people had lived with each other for 2+ years in such a confined space; because of that, the events and goings-on that happen there lack impact. This is definitely the weakest aspect of the film.
Whereas, the story back on Earth felt much more impactful and grounded and real, and I found myself wanting to stay in that perspective rather than switching back to the space station. It was something I could, and did, get invested in. Rooting for the unusual companions to keep on surviving against the odds. After a little bit of time away from the big screen, I was happy to see George Clooney grace the screen once again, not only acting, but also returning to directing. I thought he played his role brilliantly, you could see the internal struggles he was facing in his eyes and you felt the weight of his burdens on your shoulders as you watched him limp on.
As previously stated, if you're looking for a high-octane action/sci-fi film, then look elsewhere, as The Midnight Sky is very much a slow burn. But if you like your survival/sci-fi/drama films with a bit more heart, then this latest Netflix original just might be for you.
Based off the novel "Good Morning, Midnight" written by Lily Brooks-Dalton comes a survival/sci-fi/drama directed by George Clooney.
Set in 2049, this story follows a lone scientist (George Clooney) and a young companion, a little girl, left in an Arctic weather station after an unknown disaster makes the Earth's surface uninhabitable. As a space station begins to return to Earth, the scientist must battle against the Arctic elements; toxic radiation in the air and his own personal struggles, in order to warn the astronauts returning home. All while keeping the little girl safe.
Now a little disclaimer before I start, if you're expecting non stop action and heart pounding tension, then you're going to be disappointed. This isn't one of those films, instead, this film shows us the very grim, depressing, almost hopeless reality of what life would really be like if you're the only person left on Earth.
Exploration of relationships and companionship are at the heart of this film and we see this first hand between the scientist and his companion. After a bit of a rocking start, you get to see a bond form between the two and gradually grow stronger as they face more and more challenges together. It's clear to see that the scientist relies on the girl just as much as she relies on him.
Perspectives switch back and forth between Earth and the space station and if I'm being honest, the chemistry between the astronauts... Well, I don't think there was any. If you're stuck in a station with 5 people for over 2 years, then it is expected that you would become a family, you would have a bond that no one else would ever have. But seeing them interact with each other on screen, I didn't believe it. I didn't believe that these people had lived with each other for 2+ years in such a confined space; because of that, the events and goings-on that happen there lack impact. This is definitely the weakest aspect of the film.
Whereas, the story back on Earth felt much more impactful and grounded and real, and I found myself wanting to stay in that perspective rather than switching back to the space station. It was something I could, and did, get invested in. Rooting for the unusual companions to keep on surviving against the odds. After a little bit of time away from the big screen, I was happy to see George Clooney grace the screen once again, not only acting, but also returning to directing. I thought he played his role brilliantly, you could see the internal struggles he was facing in his eyes and you felt the weight of his burdens on your shoulders as you watched him limp on.
As previously stated, if you're looking for a high-octane action/sci-fi film, then look elsewhere, as The Midnight Sky is very much a slow burn. But if you like your survival/sci-fi/drama films with a bit more heart, then this latest Netflix original just might be for you.
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