Brent Marchant
Written on 3/2/2024
From time to time, a movie comes along thatโs hard to define, and, hence, itโs hard to know what to make of it. Such is the case with the second feature outing from filmmaker Johan Renck, a director best known for TV commercials and music videos, a reputation that bleeds through at times in this production. Viewer opinions and interpretations of this one are all across the board, making โSpacemanโ one of the most challenging releases to peg in recent memory. This space-faring sci-fi release tells the tale of an astronaut (Adam Sandler) on a solo, long-term deep space mission to investigate a mysterious anomaly. However, heโs experiencing a profound sense of loneliness thatโs distracting him from carrying out his quest, in large part because of marital troubles with his pregnant wife (Carey Mulligan) back on earth. As he seeks to sort out these matters, though, heโs further sidetracked by the unexpected appearance of an enigmatic alien that resembles a large nimble spider (voiced by Paul Dano) who possesses a profound philosophical wisdom. But how will all of this shake out, and what effect will it have on the mission? This scenario makes for an intriguing premise, but what exactly is the filmmakerโs intent in carrying it out? There are mixed tonal aspects here, some of which seem sincere, with others that come across as cheeky and cheesy, as if the director is giving the audience a good, sidelong wink. Indeed, itโs often difficult to tell which way the narrative is supposed to go. And, if straddling the fence is the real intent, it doesnโt quite work. So where does that leave us? I suppose itโs up to viewers to decide for themselves, but that seems shamelessly noncommittal. Based on the filmโs attributes alone, there are good arguments for and against this offering. For instance, its ample metaphysical and philosophical insights are cogently presented and easy to understand, even if a bit saccharinely encrusted at times. It also represents a promising step up for Sandlerโs attempt at reinventing himself as an actor in search of more substantive roles than the inanely silly parts heโs best known for. And the pictureโs numerous deftly placed allusions to other sci-fi/fantasy projects enhance the narrative nicely, as seen in homages to โInterstellarโ (2014), โSolarisโ (2002), โEverything Everywhere All at Onceโ (2022) and even the lyrics to David Bowieโs Space Oddity. However, tedious pacing, occasionally poor sound quality and less-than-stellar visual effects (especially in the alienโs supremely tacky appearance) get in the way, further adding to the inherent overall ambiguity noted earlier. This one is thus up to you โ and donโt be surprised if you come away from it with a different interpretation than whatโs written here.
Louisa Moore - Screen Zealots
Written on 7/17/2024
In director Johan Renckโs science fiction fantasy โSpaceman,โ adapted from Jaroslav Kalfaลโs 2017 novel Spaceman of Bohemia, viewers are taken on a philosophical journey into the depths of one manโs self-inflicted loneliness that manifests as a nightmarish friendship with a giant space spider. It takes a lot of guts to attempt a screen adaptation of such an abstract story, but Renck pulls it off, mostly with the help of a strong lead performance from Adam Sandler.
Dubbed โthe loneliest man in the world,โ Jakub (Sandler) is six months into a solitary mission to investigate a mysterious phenomenon that lies on the edge of the solar system. Realizing the wife (Carey Mulligan) and marriage he left behind will likely not be there waiting upon his return, his desperation to repair the relationship grows. One day, Jakub discovers a giant alien spider he calls Hanuลก (voice of Paul Dano) hiding in the ship. With the new companion on board, he develops an unlikely kinship and intense emotional bond with the creature.
This is a story about two lonely travelers who find comfort in each other. They share deeply profound conversations about the nature and meaning of life, love, death, and the sting of regret and grief that can overpower a personโs existence. Jakubโs ambition has destroyed his life and his relationship, and his grip on reality is drifting away (there possibility is left open for viewers to decide if Hanuลก is imaginary or indeed real). The spider can somehow read Jakubโs mind and access his lifeโs memories, and thereโs a lot of hurt and emotional turmoil thatโs been building up for decades. Itโs a story of what it means to be human, but also one of companionship and mutual understanding.
The effects crew did a bang-up job animating Hanuลก, and the spider looks and feels real both physically (with his glossy eyes and hairy body) and emotionally (thanks to a moving voice performance from Dano). The spider is authentic with sympathy and companionship, and the friendship that develops between Hanuลก and Jakub, whom he affectionately calls โskinny human,โ is genuine. Sandler is an accomplished dramatic actor (something thatโs easy to forget), and he is absolutely great here, depicting a tormented soul thatโs well-worn with loneliness.
Pensive and poignant, โSpacemanโ isnโt going to be for everyone. Thereโs no denying that itโs a very weird film, but there is an abundance of thoughtful reflection about the struggle with confronting loneliness thatโs told in a highly creative way.
By: Louisa Moore / SCREEN ZEALOTS
