Don't look up

[cobito]

Yesterday I saw what I consider (and not many people seem to), a great movie. One of my favorites of 2021 (I still have Dune and Matrix left, which they say don't disappoint, but well).

At first it looks like a cheap TV movie until you see the cast. It can be seen on Netflix and has a high availability on "alternative platforms".

The movie is about three scientists who fight to convince, first the authorities and then the population, that a comet is going to impact Earth and destroy it. It is a very unsubtle satire and to be honest, the performance by Meryl Streep reminds me of a certain national politician who... ahem.

This movie reminds me a lot of Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove. It narrates how a crisis happens and in what absurd, ridiculous and plausible way it would be managed. Of course, I am not comparing both movies. Dr. Strangelove is a masterpiece for me and Don't Look Up, although I think it's good, is just entertainment (we'll have to see how it ages).

I don't want to say anything about the content so you don't have prejudices when watching it. I am very interested in how the narrative of this type of movie has changed. I remember for example Deep Impact and Armageddon, the latter being a dangerous American film. In general, it seems that propagandistic cinema has been disappearing in the last 20 years. Another example of this style that comes to mind is Apollo 13 (1995) vs First Man (2019). The first one narrates a great failure in an epic way and the second one narrates a great feat without much glory. It seems that something has changed in this aspect but maybe it's just my perception.

Anyway, if you haven't seen it and you want to laugh (or cry) at all of us for a while, it's well worth it. Some people think it's a parody of what has happened with the Coronavirus. Others (including myself) think it's a wake-up call about global warming.

[krampak]

I watched it last night, quite entertaining, a good representation of how human stupidity seems to be reaching absurd levels. If I were told that this will happen in the future I would believe it

[Yorus]

I hadn't seen the thread, but I also saw it a few days ago. Personally, I really liked it, and at the same time it leaves you thinking about how a mix of stupidity and personal interests can lead us to ruin at some point. I definitely recommend it.

[Fassou]

View. It reminds me a lot of **Mars Attack!** (1996) with perhaps a touch of **Idiocrazy** (2006) in its parody of the still current politics of that young and brainless country that we all know. Yesterday I saw: **Finch** (2021) which is much more uplifting as a way to pass the time, although sad. **Dune** (2021) on the other hand left me a bit indifferent, as I couldn't help but compare shots and sequences with the 1984 feature film by David Lynch, although I recognize the effort and I like that there is this new attempt to portray more extensively the homonymous novel by Frank Herbert from 1965. Cheers! Gamers!

[cobito]

@fassou Well yes, it reminded me of Idiocrazy too, I'm adding Finch to my list, it looks good.

Speaking of future movies, this one came to me the other day:

We'll have to watch Soylent Green again.

[Yorus]

@fassou said in Don't Look Up:

Dune (2021) on the other hand left me a bit indifferent, as I couldn't help but compare shots and sequences with David Lynch's 1984 feature film, although I recognize the effort and I like that there is this new attempt to portray more extensively Frank Herbert's 1965 novel of the same name.

The same thing happened to me, and although I have a short memory I happened to watch the 1984 one a couple of weeks before, and the similarities make you feel cold. Obviously both have their origin in the novel, but that's why I didn't think it was the movie of the year even though it was very good.

[jordiqui]

I saw it a few days ago. A satire, as my friend Kamprak says, human stupidity has a long way to go. Also close to how politicians, etc. can move according to economic interests, ignoring reality or science. I know for a fact that Di Caprio is a climate change activist. In this case, his presence suggests to me that the satire is going that way, although it is also possible that a meteorite will fall on us. Entertaining and truthful.

[cobito]

@fassou said in Don't Look Up:

Yesterday I saw : Finch (2021) which is much more uplifting as a way to pass the time, even if it's sad.

I saw it on Sunday and it was good. The light patriotism of Hanks seems quite digestible to me.

Attention spoiler:

Despite the satire, the ending of Don't Look Up, with the family and friends at the table making the effort to enjoy every last second knowing that in a few minutes they will be dead, left me with a bad feeling. On the other hand, in Finch, there is hope on the way to San Francisco!

[Bm4n]

For me, one of the best things Netflix has done lately, the social critique works much better with comedy. It's sad that something so absurd is so plausible