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The Last Earth Girl (2019)
Small Focus but Deep Story
Similar to other character based, sci-fi films that I've seen, The Last Earth Girl focuses not so much on the hard science or strict sci-fi but merely uses them as a backdrop for the film to help tell the story of a young woman alone at the end of the world.
The film is also rife with homages to earlier sci-fi films such as the main girl's uniform which brings to mind Sam Bell's uniform in Moon and I also appreciate the literary references to Sisyphus.
By far though, the greatest strength of the film has to be the depth to which the story focuses on the inner struggles of the main character and the value of them. Going so far as to have her inner voice become vocal, mocking and questioning her along the way. And this stoic philosophy is elevated even more with the help of some of the minor characters in the film such as the older space center worker.
Falling a bit short for me though, was some of the pacing and slow camera work used to tell the story. Perhaps a more fluid approach and more movement could have added more life to it for me. All in all though, a decent film.
Another Earth (2011)
String Theory vs. Philosophy
So if you're following my reviews, my last one was on the sci-fi film Moon. And as another smaller budget sci-fi film, I'll be giving my thoughts on Another Earth. Brit Marling stars as the troubled/careless protagonist who, through a twist of fate, ends up committing vehicular manslaughter on the same night that a literal 2nd earth is discovered to be orbiting our sun.
Events pick up several years later when Brit's character is released from prison and in trying to pick up her own life, we see her struggles and attempted suicide. But then, when fate once again smiles on her, she is selected as an essay winner to visit the 2nd planet and meet her alternate self where she's given a chance to see what her life could have been like.
Now, summary over, here are my thoughts. Excellent and very well done. From the quiet desperation of a woman's life coming undone to a chance for redemption, the story and pacing continue at a great pace and keep you highly invested in the character. And although someone looking for a true sci-fi film may be left a little lacking, the story and drive of the main character more than make up for it in my opinion.
Moon (2009)
Quirky, Unique, and Awesome
Duncan Jones and Sam Rockwell knock this little sci-fi gem out of the park. From the original story, to the portrayal of lonely astronaut Sam Bell by Sam Rockwell to the quirky AI voiced by Kevin Spacey. It all fits together really well. And it's plain to see from just casual glances the homages that the film pays to past sci-fi films such as Sam's uniform bearing a striking resemblance to Bruce Dern's in Silent Running.
Another very cool aspect of the film is the exterior scenes with the lunar rovers and how they were actually created using a mix of virtual and practical FX. The rovers themselves were actually small models filmed on greyish dirt but then in post, they added smoke, more dirt, and some debris shooting up from them to really sell it. The results speak for themselves.
I could talk more about this awesome film but I think I would start getting into spoilers and I want to avoid that. Wake me when it's quitting time!