{"id":988,"date":"2017-05-06T07:27:58","date_gmt":"2017-05-06T07:27:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/2017\/05\/06\/httptheblurb-com-aureviewspassengers-movie-review\/"},"modified":"2017-05-06T07:27:58","modified_gmt":"2017-05-06T07:27:58","slug":"httptheblurb-com-aureviewspassengers-movie-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/httptheblurb-com-aureviewspassengers-movie-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Passengers – movie review"},"content":{"rendered":"

Passengers <\/i>is set in a distant future where the Earth has become overcrowded and resources are drying up. The colony spaceship Avalon is making its way towards Homestead II, a distant planet that will become the new home for humans. The journey though will take some 120 years. The crew and some 5000 passengers have been put into a state of frozen suspended animation, due to be awakened on arrival at their new home, allowing them to colonise this brave new world. But thirty years into the journey, the Avalon is struck by a meteor shower, which causes a malfunction that wakes up Jim Preston (Chris Pratt, from Guardians of the Galaxy<\/i><\/a>), a mechanic.<\/p>\n

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He is unable to wake any of the crew who are in hibernation in secure quarters. With no way to re-enter the hibernation pod he faces the prospect of a lonely death aboard the ship. For a year he wanders the ship awash in self-pity, with his only company being Arthur (Michael Sheen), the automated bartender. For a while he is a bit like Tom Hanks’ character in Cast Away<\/i>. During his daily wanderings though he spies the beautiful Aurora (Jennifer Lawrence) in her nearby pod. For a while he wrestles with his conscience, but then decides to wake her from her sleep so that he can have female companionship. A romance develops between the two, until she learns of the truth of Jim’s actions – that he brought her to life for his own selfish reasons.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile a number of further glitches and malfunctions force the pair to work together to try and ensure the smooth running of the ship. Gus (Laurence Fishburne, who previously had his misadventures in space in Event Horizon<\/i>), a crew member awakened by another glitch, briefly offers some assistance.<\/p>\n

Passengers <\/i>has been written by Jon Spaihts, who also scripted Doctor Strange<\/i><\/a>. It was on the 2007 black list of the hottest unproduced scripts, and has spent nearly a decade in development. But the script offers up too many contrivances to be completely credible. And it also raises a number of disturbing moral questions, especially about Jim’s actions and motivation. The film has been directed in a leisurely fashion by Norwegian filmmaker Morten Tyldum (The Imitation Game<\/i><\/a>), but there are several moments early on when the film almost grinds to a halt.<\/p>\n

Passengers <\/i>is essentially a two-handed drama and relies on the rapport between Pratt and Lawrence to carry it along. The relationship that develops between the pair drives the narrative, creates a sort of emotional roller coaster, and adds to the dramatic tension. The roles provide meaty material for the pair and they delivers solid performances. Pratt, who began his career in comedies like the TV series Parks And Recreation<\/i>, delivers a strong performance here. Lawrence continues to show why she is one of the most in-demand actresses working in movies today with a subtle and nuanced performance. Sheen is amiable as the friendly bartender who lends a sympathetic ear and dispenses wisdom while polishing glasses. Fishburne brings his imposing screen presence to what is a fairly thankless role, and Andy Garcia pops up in a cameo as the Avalon’s captain.<\/p>\n

With its small cast and outer space setting, Passengers <\/i>will remind audiences of other sci-fi films like Gravity<\/a>, The Martian<\/a><\/i>, the classic 2001: A Space Odyssey<\/i>, and even Douglas Trumbull’s 1972 film Silent Running<\/i>. The film deals with themes of loneliness, mortality, the future of mankind. Guy Hendrix Dyas\u2019 production design for the massive spacecraft Avalon is impressive, the CGI generated special effects are superb and cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto (Argo<\/em><\/a>) gives us some great visuals.<\/p>\n